Chapter 42: Honeymoon (3) (1/2)

Late post, sorry. In my defense, this chapter was almost twice as long as the average chapter length.

Next chapter will be released on either Monday or Tuesday. It’s impossible for me to release a chapter tomorrow, and I also have to re-edit the past chapters to correct the confusing point-of-views that other readers have pointed out.

Some changes I made to the previous chapters:

Terms used in this chapter:

Minonyeon – Korean word that refers to an old man (60y/o and above) with a beautiful face/looks. Mainly refers to men, but sometimes used on women too.

“It’s thrilling, it’s always fresh, and being handsome is the best.” – This is a famous quote/answer from Korean actor Jung Woo-sung when he was asked in an interview if he ever gets tired from being called handsome. I only found out about it when I was translating this chapter.

Most of the playable characters in Legend of Heroes 2 were composed of handsome men and beautiful women.

Even Keynes, the only elderly character, was a very dignified, charming, and beautiful old man (minonyeon).

‘It sounds like a curse. Minonyeon.’

T/N: The Korean word for ‘beautiful old man’ is 미노년, which is read as ‘mi-no-nyeon.’ Its pronunciation is similar to the curse word 미친년, read as ‘mi-chin-nyeon,’ which means ‘crazy b*tch.’

Among these playable characters, there were the Four Great Kings of Beauty, which included the absolutely handsome boy, Jude, and the incomparably beautiful girl, Cordelia. There was also the main character, Maximilian, who was not only born with a beautiful face, but also with character, ability, talent, connections, and a golden spoon. And lastly was the transcendental beauty, Adelaide, who always wore a mask because it was impossible to embody her exceeding beauty with an illustration.

‘Lucas sort of feels like the minimum standard to enter that beautiful people category.’

It could also be said that Lucas is the lower limit if one wanted to be invited by the fairies.

Although he was a manly, handsome, and attractive-looking man, he slightly didn’t conform to the fairies’ preferences.

Now then, two of the Four Great Kings of Beauty, whom the fairies couldn’t stop loving, were gathered here together, so it was natural that an enthusiastic response erupted among the fairies.

“He’s completely handsome.”

“I don’t think I’ll get tired of looking at you all day.”

“So pretty. Pretty. Her eyes are like jewels.”

The breaths of the winter fairies surrounding Jude and Cordelia grew restless as they continued expressing their thoughts.

Unlike the fairies that Jude and Cordelia met before who played with them like they were dolls, the winter fairies seemed to have more interest in appreciating beauty.

‘This is seriously embarrassing.’

Cordelia had lived her life being poured out words saying that she was the prettiest, but now that she was surrounded by dozens of fairies pouring out compliments, it seemed that her growing embarrassment could even pierce the sky.

“Look at how shy she is.”

“Cute.”

“I want to bite her.”

Cordelia became more embarrassed from the admiration of the winter fairies, and she could only look at the ground while at her wit’s end.

But Jude was completely different.

“It’s thrilling, it’s always fresh, and being handsome is the best.”

“Kyaa!”

“Tell me this too, this too.”

“Not theirs but mine! Read mine!”

The winter fairies were jumping around and waving large pieces of paper in their hands, which were the size of a business card for humans.

Each piece of paper was filled with lines that were cheesy and sweet, and the space and time seemed to shrink the moment the fairies heard Jude say the lines.

“Now, wait in line, line up. Okay, let’s read this one this time.”

Jude answered leisurely and chose a piece of paper, and the fairies wildly screamed again.

“Kyaa! That’s it, that’s it!”

“He read that famous line perfectly.”

‘What the hell is he doing?’

As Cordelia turned her head in curiosity, Jude saw Cordelia, and at that moment he wickedly smiled – no, he handsomely smiled.

‘Cordelia, help me.’

‘Huh?’

‘What do you want? No, what do you want me to do here?’

‘Because I need someone who’ll play the opposite role.’

‘Someone who’ll play the opposite role?’

‘Just stand still.’

After their almost telepathic conversation, Jude approached Cordelia, who flinched for a moment and froze. And at the same time, dozens of winter fairies shut their mouths. It was to immerse themselves on what was about to happen.

‘Stay still.’

Jude spoke with his eyes again as he slowly stretched out his hand and gently stroked Cordelia’s beautiful hair. He then brought his face closer to her.

‘Wh-what is this crazy b*stard doing!’

But Jude didn’t stop. He drew his face closer to a distance she could feel his breath, and while looking straight at Cordelia’s blue eyes, he said.

“I can’t do that. Because I…”

‘What are you-!’

“You…”

Jude’s eyes moistened, and Cordelia unconsciously gulped.

And so did the winter fairies.

Jude caressed Cordelia’s cheek. He spoke as if whispering and had a face that seemed to shed tears at any moment.

“Because I love you.”

“Kyaaa!”

“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!”

The winter fairies wildly screamed and lost their minds.

It was a scene in the story “Romance of the Fairy Queen and the 9th Circle Archmage.’ The Fairy Queen had destroyed the lifelong wish of the Archmage because of a decisive mistake, so she asked him to kill her. But the Archmage wailed, saying and begging that he couldn’t kill her because of love. And what Jude acted out were the lines that the Archmage had said to the Fairy Queen.

“Did you record it? Did you record it?”

“I even took a video!”

As the winter fairies went into a frenzy, Cordelia kicked Jude in the shin once.

“Aah!”

“What is this crazy b*stard doing!”

‘My heart was pounding! No, not that…’

Cordelia kicked Jude a few more times to suppress her embarrassment and then took a deep breath. And the winter fairies worked hard to take another video, saying that it was good in its own way.

‘Haa…seriously. Was he an actor?’

The way he expressed emotions through his eyes was not normal.

When she thought about it, his acting intonation when he read the lines presented by the fairies were a little different each time.

‘What did you really do?’

As Cordelia was absorbed in questioning Jude’s real job, the winter fairies who were begging them to read their lines again, suddenly shut their mouths and fell silent.

It wasn’t because Jude’s new performance began.

“Open the way!”

Unlike the other fairies in mini dresses that were close to one-piece swimsuits, one fairy who was wearing armor and a helmet, shouted loudly, and the entire banquet hall became silent at once as if the fuss so far had been a lie.

‘Fairy Knight.’

It was the strongest fairy that protected the Fairy Queen.

It was the only combat force that existed among the fairies who rarely went into battle.

“Jude Bayer and Cordelia Chase. The Queen is calling for the two of you.”

At the fairy knight’s declaration, most of the fairies’ faces and shoulders drooped.

It was a declaration that the banquet was virtually over.

“Follow me.”

As the fairy knight spoke with dignity and turned around, the winter fairies stepped aside and opened the way for Jude and Cordelia.

“It was fun.”

“Thank you.”

“Let’s play again later.”

Jude responded with a smile to the fairies who only said a few words and sent Cordelia a look.

‘The real thing starts from now on.’

The only one who could give the winter protection was the Fairy Queen, the head of the winter fairies.

However, Jude and Cordelia were aiming for more than that.

“This way.”

As they walked following the guidance of the fairy knight, the trees lined up in a narrow line, creating a corridor-like space.

It was almost the same structure as the home of the fairies whom they had previously visited.

And after a few steps, the same thing happened again this time.

Their vision seemed to blur for a moment, and suddenly, Jude and Cordelia had arrived at the Queen’s room.

“I greet the Fairy Queen.”

“I greet the Fairy Queen.”

When Jude bowed while greeting her, Cordelia quickly followed suit and bowed while greeting her too.

“You are polite children.”

On top of the icy throne sat the Fairy Queen in a white dress with a bluish glow.

If the Fairy Queen they met before had blonde hair, the Fairy Queen now had platinum hair close to silver. She also gave off a much colder impression perhaps because of the color of her dress.

‘But still, the Fairy Queen is a fairy.’

Jude took a deep breath and straightened his posture, before looking straight at the Fairy Queen.

“You are handsome indeed.”

The Fairy Queen showed a fairy-like reaction with a slight blush on her cheeks as she smiled. She turned to Cordelia for a moment, before returning her gaze to Jude.

She had seen the silver ring on the ring finger of Jude’s right hand, which Jude had deliberately lifted towards his chest.

“The Fairy Steps?”

‘As expected.’

She recognized it.

Or more like, she had no choice but to recognize it.

The Fairy Steps was uncommon.

Moreover, the Fairy Steps that Jude was wearing now belonged to the ‘Fall Fairies.’

‘Fairies have classifications too.’

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

The fairies symbolized the four seasons.

Broadly speaking, they were all the same fairies, but there were some differences, just like how humans classified each other by race and country.

The fairies that Jude and Cordelia met before were fall fairies, and the winter fairies, or to be more exact, the Winter Fairy Queen, held their existence to be of a considerable significance.

“Did Lorelei give you this?”

The Fall Fairy Queen had said that she liked a handsome man more than a pretty woman.

“Yes. She gave this to thank us for participating well in the banquet.”

He had received it as a reward for defeating the Bicorn, but Jude deliberately hid that fact.

‘Because we didn’t do anything special here, except for playing.’

Of course, they didn’t forget to mention the Moonlight either.

“This sacred rod was also given by Lorelei.”

When Jude softly spoke and gestured to Cordelia, she quickly lifted the Moonlight that she had taken out beforehand.

“Moonlight?”

“She definitely said that it was her hospitality for the guests…and we thought that it was too much of an item to give, but nonetheless, we were grateful.”

When Gerd, the Winter Fairy Queen, heard Jude’s answer, her expression became complicated.

She thought that she should at least do what Lorelei did.

Otherwise, she felt like she had somehow lost to Lorelei.

‘A fairy is a fairy after all.’

They were a race that were written as cute, lovely, and mischievous, and can be easily read like a child.

“Ummm…ummmmmm.”

The Fairy Queen Gerd groaned for a moment, before clenching her fists as if she had reached a decision.

“The Winter Fairies cannot fall behind the Fall Fairies.”

“You’re absolutely right. Seeing it in person like this…really…ah, no. It wouldn’t be polite to Lorelei or to Gerd either.”

Gerd’s blue eyes were filled with various emotions when Jude purposely spoke.

“What’s wrong? What were you trying to say?”

“That is…”

“That is?”

“Because you look to be more beautiful than Lorelei… I’m sure that your heart is more beautiful too.”

At Jude’s blatant lines, Cordelia quickly lowered her head to conceal her expression.

‘Why is he not embarrassed?! I mean…his hidden intentions are just too visible!’