NARRATOR
"Alright, listen", Izhart said to Haejun and the others who were standing at a corner, "We will depart tomorrow morning. Sort out your feelings by then."
Saying this, Izhart vanished, leaving behind four necklaces. They looked just like that blue necklace. Haejun picked up one, followed by Iseul and Sooyeon. Joonwoo was the last one but he did not pick the necklace.
"I have a bad feeling about this. I don't want to wear the necklace.", he said.
"Nothing will happen.", assured Sooyeon and helped him wear it, "We have already signed the contract. Izhart will protect us."
The four friends came out of Daeun's room, and the door slammed behind them. Iseul looked back, and Sooyeon patted her head. They both went to the balcony while Haejun and Joonwoo went to the living room.
"I have been thinking of something.", said Sooyeon softly, looking at the distant buildings.
"Ask away", Iseul looked at her.
"Iseul, are you… Really going out with… Joonwoo?"
Though Iseul did not expect this question, she answered softly, looking somewhat annoyed, "No".
"Really?!", Sooyeon's face lit up with hope.
"Yes, I said he was teasing me! You did not believe me!", exclaimed Iseul.
"I am sorry. S-sorry. I-I-I like Joonwoo. I thought-", the brightness faded away and was replaced by wet eyes which looked downwards.
Iseul was friends with Joonwoo way before they became a trio. Iseul had met Sooyeon in middle school, while Joonwoo since birth. Like, they were born in the same hospital! Does Iseul not have the right to be with Joonwoo first? These thoughts filled Sooyeon's mind.
Iseul was looking at her with her mouth wide open. With suspicious eyes and a big smile, she said," Then I will play my part as the cupid."
Sooyeon looked u,p and, while wiping away her tears, she said, "Not now. Everyone is in a bad situation. I don't want to reveal this now. And also my brother knows."
On the other side, Haejun was traumatized, and Joonwoo was helping him.
Haejun said, "I murdered someone?"
"No! See, if I were an army commander in my past life, I would have killed many people. Now, the soldiers and generals did not have any rift between them. They do what they were ordered to do. Now, a count just cannot act all-powerful -if you are not a tyrant, obviously, and I know you are not- and kill someone. The emperor is the supreme power. We are studying history, bruh! A count has to be ordered to do so. Right?"
Haejun looked at him, "History. Right. The history where the kings please nobles and the nobles kill the kings for the throne? This history?"
"... Well, I am not that good at studying."
The next morning, the classroom door opened, and Daeun walked in. The students inside the room started whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that Daeun?"
"What is she doing here so early?"
"Did she change her style?"
"Why is she approaching the new kid?"
"Excuse me", tapped Daeun on the shoulder of the new student, "you are Jeong Hae Seong. Right? I am your classmate. Can I sit beside you?
"Yes, please," replied Jungwoon, opening his headset. He was a tall boy. He wore a customised school uniform, and his hair covered his forehead. From his looks, it can be deduced that he would be the next school crush."
Daeun sat down. "By the way, can we be friends?" She reached out her hand, and Hae Seong willingly befriended his first friend in the new school.
To Jungwoon, she did not look like those students who would befriend or judge him according to his background. However, he did not know that his queen was trying to conquer him again.
On the other side, the four friends were ready to leave.
"You have packed your bags…the portal is prepared…Well now now now… You have to give me the bags…", Izhart said as he rubbed his hands on his long tail coat.
Izhart was…
"Why"
You will be given the bags once you make certain progress.
"How would we even navigate through that place without these things?"
"Don't worry. Everything is ready. You just have to follow a few steps, which I will transmit to you.
"Telepathy."
"Correct! However, most of the things depend upon you. You may now enter the portal. Remember 'Make Cesare fall in love.' Alright?"