After the museum fiasco, Duke Thorian's armor was safely tucked away in Luke's "infinity storage." It was one less thing to worry about, but with Luke and Amiel left idle at home, I knew it was only a matter of time before their curiosity—and knack for trouble—found an outlet.
Their last visit to my office had been so chaotic that it warranted a firm house arrest. The memory of overturned chairs, scattered papers, and Amiel attempting to wield a stapler as a sword still made me cringe. I hadn't anticipated their unwavering determination to be "useful." When I casually suggested they check in with Mrs. Kim, who ran the convenience store next door, I didn't think they'd take me literally.
Earlier that morning, as I sifted through endless spreadsheets, I mused aloud, "If Luke and Amiel could help with something, maybe they could handle inventory for us." I-seo chuckled, sipping her coffee.
"Yeah, because nothing says 'organized' like medieval warriors with modern technology." Myeong, listening nearby, chimed in, "Oh, this will be fun!"
Later that day, after a long morning of back-to-back meetings and gathering datasets for our data analysis project at the Jongno-gu Office, we walked past Mrs. Kim's store on our way back. What we saw made me stop in my tracks, unable to believe my eyes.
The convenience store was a bright, bustling hub under the glow of fluorescent lights. Shelves were neatly stocked with an array of colorful snacks, beverages, and daily essentials. The air was filled with the sweet scent of freshly baked pastries mingling with the salty aroma of chips. The soft pop of K-pop tunes played from the speakers, adding a lively backdrop to the scene.
Luke stood behind the counter, wearing a bright yellow apron that seemed almost comical against his broad frame and usually stoic demeanor. His long black hair was tucked neatly under a cap, but the apron was a stark contrast to his otherwise serious appearance.
Amiel, on the other hand, was in the snack aisle, holding a bag of chips like he was posing for a portrait. He stood there with a serious expression as if the bag of chips was a priceless artifact from another world.
As we approached the store, a flood of memories rushed through my mind. I had spoken to Luke and Amiel earlier that day, emphasizing the importance of blending in and avoiding the use of magic while we were still here in Korea.
"This isn't just to avoid chaos, but also for your protection," I had told them quietly, ensuring they understood the gravity of the situation. "In our realm, the world is curious about anything unusual, and it's hard to say what might happen if someone were to discover the truth about you."
They had nodded earnestly, promising to do their best to blend in despite their unmistakable medieval presence. But knowing them as I do, I wasn't entirely convinced they could completely suppress their true nature.
"They actually did it," I muttered in disbelief, my eyes widening.
"They did," Myeong replied, his voice bubbling with barely contained glee. "Oh, this is gold. Absolute gold."
Before I could stop him, Myeong practically floated into the store, dragging me and I-seo along with him. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn't help but laugh at his over-the-top entrance.
The moment Amiel spotted us, he waved enthusiastically. "Sena! I-seo!"
Before I could respond, Myeong darted toward him, hooking his arm through Amiel's with a delighted squeal. "Oh my god, what's with the formalities, oh well... your jawline is a masterpiece," he gushed, fluttering his eyelashes dramatically.
"And those arms! Do you work out? Of course, you do! You must tell me your secrets."
Amiel blinked in confusion, clearly unsure how to respond to Myeong's relentless compliments. "Uh… thank you?"
"Myeong!" I-seo hissed, yanking him back with the precision of a woman protecting her territory. "Hands off, that's mine!!"
"Fine, fine," Myeong pouted, releasing Amiel's arm. But his gaze quickly shifted to Luke, and his grin widened even more.
"Well, hello there, Prince Charming," he said, skipping over with a playful twinkle in his eye. "Your turn!"
Luke stiffened as Myeong hooked his arm through his, his hazelnut brown eyes darting toward me with a silent plea: Save me.
Instead of helping immediately, I burst into laughter. "You're on your own, Luke."
Myeong leaned closer, examining Luke's face with a level of intensity that made me uncomfortable. "Your cheekbones! Your nose! Are you secretly a descendant of Zeus? Oh, this is too much. I think I'm going to faint!"
At that moment, a regular customer, Mr. Lee, walked in with his usual stoic expression. As he approached the counter, Luke accidentally knocked over a display of energy drinks while trying to demonstrate how to use the cash register. Bottles tumbled to the floor with a loud crash.
"Oops," Luke said, looking bewildered. "Is this supposed to happen?"
Mr. Lee raised an eyebrow and muttered, "Typical," before helping to gather the fallen bottles. His deadpan reaction only added to the hilarity of the situation.
Amiel approached the vending machine cautiously, pressing buttons as if he were defusing a bomb. "Tell me, does this machine breathe fire when I press the wrong button? And how about the buttons for that machine that breathes winter?" he asked, half-joking.
Luke tried to explain, but his large hands kept hitting multiple buttons at once, causing a cascade of error messages and the machine to beep incessantly.
"No, it just dispenses snacks," Luke said patiently, but his calmness only made Amiel more confused. "But why is it so noisy? Is it trying to communicate?"
Amiel stared at the remote of the air conditioner, pressing buttons like he was launching a missile. "What sorcery is this? Do we perform a ritual to activate its magic?" he asked, eyes wide. Luke tried to explain, but his explanations only confused Amiel further.
"So, you just press the numbers and it heats the food? No chanting involved?" Amiel shook his head in disbelief. "In Valeraine, we summon the heat with a mighty roar!"
Meanwhile, Myeong wasn't done yet. He turned his attention to Amiel again, now examining the snack aisle like it was a battlefield.
"Your organizational skills are impeccable," he said, pretending to scrutinize the rows of chips. "Do you strategize your snack placements based on peak customer hunger times? It's genius!"
Amiel blinked again, struggling to maintain his composure. "I'm just trying to keep things orderly," he replied, though his voice wavered slightly.
"I mean it," Myeong insisted, placing a hand on Amiel's shoulder. "Your method is flawless. We should take notes!"
I-seo rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her amusement. "Myeong, you're impossible," she sighed, shaking her head as she tried to keep him from further pestering Amiel.
"And you," I teased, turning to Luke, "you look like you could use a break from all this chaos."
Luke chuckled softly, though the tension in his shoulders remained. "It's been… interesting," he admitted.
At that moment, another customer, Mrs. Kim herself, tried to regain control. "Luke, Amiel, please! We need to keep things under control here," she called out, though her voice held a hint of amusement. "Don't go turning this store into a gladiator arena."
Luke nodded, trying to steady himself. "Of course, Mrs. Kim. We're just… adjusting."
Mrs. Kim sighed, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Just try to keep the peace, okay? And please, no more extreme measures."
Mrs. Kim then approached Luke and Amiel directly, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "You both have such a... regal presence. Are you participating in a promotional event or something? Maybe a themed day?"
Sena quickly stepped in to clarify, remembering her earlier instructions. "No, Mrs. Kim, they're just helping out today. Luke has been taking care of the storage, and Amiel is organizing the snacks."
Mrs. Kim nodded, still looking slightly puzzled but accepting the explanation. "Well, you both seem very dedicated. If you need any help, just let me know. Don't hesitate to ask for assistance if things get too hectic."
As Mrs. Kim walked away, Amiel turned to I-seo with a sheepish smile. "She thought we were just acting as chivalrous knights for some sort of event."
I-seo chuckled, nodding sympathetically. "You guys are certainly in character today. But you don't have to explain anything to her."
Amiel sighed, glancing at Luke who was still recovering from the earlier mishaps. "It's hard to stay undercover when our entire demeanor screams medieval era."
Sena, overhearing this interaction, shared a knowing look with I-seo. "They did their best to hide their magic and act normal, but their true nature makes it impossible to be completely inconspicuous. Mrs. Kim just saw them as two really dedicated individuals, likely in costume for a special event."
I-seo smiled warmly. "Exactly. And who knows? Maybe their unique approach is exactly what makes them so effective, even if it does cause a bit of chaos."
Amiel sighed, looking relieved. "As long as Mrs. Kim doesn't suspect the truth, we should be okay. But I have to admit, it's fun to embrace the role sometimes."
Luke, having overheard the conversation from the next room, peeked in with a sheepish grin. "Well, if you ever need help keeping up the act, I'm your man."
I laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie among us. "Thanks, Luke. Maybe next time, we can avoid the gladiator arena scenario."
Once we got home, I collapsed onto the couch, utterly exhausted from the day. Luke, ever attentive, immediately noticed my fatigue.
"Sena," he said softly, his voice filled with genuine concern, "you're exhausted. Sit properly."
Before I could argue, he disappeared into the kitchen and returned moments later with a glass of water and a plate of neatly arranged fruit. "Eat," he instructed, placing the plate in front of me with care.
I stared at him, caught off guard by his tenderness. "Thanks," I murmured, feeling a warmth spread through me.
He nodded, sitting beside me but keeping a respectful distance. His hazelnut eyes lingered on me, his expression soft and undeniably warm. As I sipped the water, I felt my shoulders relax, the tension of the day slowly melting away.
The memory of his concerned expression earlier replayed in my mind. His quiet, deliberate gestures weren't just polite; they were full of care. It was a side of him I hadn't fully appreciated before.
Myeong, I-seo, and Amiel exchanged glances as if they could communicate telepathically. Then, in unison, they stood.
"Well," Myeong said cheerfully, "since you're clearly in good hands, we'll leave you to rest."
"What—" I started, but was cut off. Confused by their behavior, I looked at Luke who was more puzzled than I was.
"Luke," I-seo added with a knowing smile, "she's all yours." Before I could protest, they disappeared into the house, leaving me alone with Luke.
He hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You shouldn't push yourself so hard," he said quietly.
I smiled faintly. "And you shouldn't let Myeong bully you."
His lips twitched into the smallest of smiles. "You seem to enjoy it."
"Maybe a little," I admitted, leaning back into the couch.
For a while, we sat in comfortable silence, the chaos of the day fading into the background. Life with Luke and Amiel was unpredictable, exhausting, and utterly ridiculous—but in moments like this, it was undeniably sweet.
Later that evening, Amiel found a quiet moment to share his experience with I-seo.
"I told Mrs. Kim that we're just helping out," Amiel began, still slightly embarrassed. "But she seemed to think we were just in character for some promotional event or themed day."
I-seo nodded sympathetically. "She's smart, though. Maybe next time, you could play along a bit more convincingly."
Amiel chuckled ruefully. "I tried, but being from Valeraine makes it hard. I can't help but stand out, no matter how much I try to blend in."
I shared a knowing glance with Amiel, recalling the earlier chaos. "They did their best to hide their magic and act normal, but their true nature makes it impossible to be completely inconspicuous. Mrs. Kim just saw them as two really dedicated individuals, likely in costume for a special event."
I-seo smiled warmly. "Exactly. And who knows? Maybe their unique approach is exactly what makes them so effective, even if it does cause a bit of chaos."
Amiel sighed, looking relieved. "As long as Mrs. Kim doesn't suspect the truth, we should be okay. But I have to admit, it's fun to embrace the role sometimes."
Luke, having overheard the conversation from the next room, peeked in with a sheepish grin. "Well, if you ever need help keeping up the act, I'm your man."
I laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie among us. "Thanks, Luke. Maybe next time, we can avoid the gladiator arena scenario."
As the evening settled in, the trio dispersed to their respective corners of the house, leaving Luke and me to unwind. The day's events had been exhausting, but they also brought a sense of unity and understanding among us. Despite the unpredictability and chaos, moments like these made it all worthwhile.