There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 789: Side Story 4. Endless Journey - 70

Initially, their plan was to make a ring and then have their registry marriage. Maybe took a cruise for a short honeymoon before returning to the research center.

But everything changed except for the ring-making. Before heading to Lucre to commission wedding rings as well as buy an engagement ring, Asa took Julia to the Iron Village--which looked nothing like iron. It was the area at the foot of Ishtera Hill where beautiful houses with gardens could be seen among nice facilities.

"Why does it name that, then?" Julia asked curiously.

"All of the buildings here are connected to a bunker inside the hill--in case dungeon break and stuff happens," Asa explained, which made Julia widen her eyes. With a soft chuckle, Asa continued. "But the real reason is because this is where the clan’s household members live--you know; the management of Iron Shield."

"O-oh?"

It was once again dawn on Julia that she was marrying a young master from an Old House. They headed to the biggest house there, and were greeted by an old man built like a bear that Asa called Grandpa Senan. People quickly gathered, including the Chief of Staff and his wife who even Julia knew from her childhood: Rina Solstice.

It was surprise upon surprise, but thankfully, Julia had exhausted her fluster meter by meeting her benefactors--ahem, future fathers--so she could face anything calmly from then on.

She also wisely decided to not listen to how much her rings cost so she wouldn’t have to freak out about the number. That being said, she couldn’t help staring at the ring on her finger afterward--the engagement ring.

She wasn’t an accessory girlie, but even she thought it was beautiful. Well, she did choose it herself; something with a small jewel that wouldn’t look too much even when being worn at their workplace. What she loved was the band though, which made it seem like an intricate flower crown was circling her finger.

It was fortunate that she didn’t know what kind of gem it was and how expensive that small cut was.

But Asa would never tell her, because he was afraid Julia wouldn’t want to wear it if she knew. He enjoyed seeing her glancing at the ring every now and then throughout their date around Lucre, giggling inwardly every time he caught her doing so.

When they finally returned after a nice, true vacation and their first true date, they saw several cars in the front yard and Kar was hugging someone, peppering kisses on the person’s face.

"Oh, is that Hanbyul?" Julia raised her brows, didn’t think Asa’s twin could make such a soft expression.

"You can just call him Byul," Asa told her while parking their car. "Han is his family name--oh, that’s his parents," he pointed at the couple on the terrace, talking to two men and Asa’s fathers. "Oh, Uncle Joon and Uncle Dia are here too?"

"Wait--" Julia blinked and turned toward her fiance. "You mean...Sir Radia Mallarc?"

"Yep!" Asa nodded and unlocked the car door. "Let’s go."

Oh. So now she also had to meet the founder of the spaceship institution. Great. She couldn’t even act surprised anymore. Thankfully, Lucy came out with another girl--Nari, Asa said--and led her inside while giggling, hugging her arms each.

Turned out, they were all there to celebrate Asa’s and Julia’s engagement--as well as telling Kar and Byul that their ’punishment’ was only a russ. Bassena and Shin just wanted to give the children a small warning, but they didn’t expect Kar and Byul to go through it so seriously and decided to just keep at it.

No amount of acting could hide Byul’s sulky face before the dinner.

But it was a night of celebration, so he was back to his usual smiley self. After all, it meant they didn’t have to continue the ’punishment’ and they could live together again. But not before having the six of them--now with Julia--hanging out together the next day.

It reminded Byul of how they were hanging out before Lucy’s birthday, which also ended up on a beach. At that time, he was merely a boy with a huge crush on Kar, blushing at every bit of affection from the older man.

"Look at me now, holding your hand without screaming in my mind," Byul giggled as they walked hand-in-hand along the shoreline, way behind the others.

"So you used to scream inwardly every time I held your hand?" Kar arched his brow.

"You didn’t know, Hyung? Noona told me I was so bad at keeping my face straight," Byul replied, which made Kar smile awkwardly.

Honestly, Kar didn’t really pay attention to that kind of thing. He had just thought Byul was shy in general. Thinking back, he was feeling a bit guilty--or ashamed? Well...

"Maybe because I have to try to control my expression as much as possible around you, I become quite decent at acting," Byul continued cheekily, and Kar was grateful that they were on Uncle Dia’s private beach because he could immediately kiss the cute lips.

"Then, is it because of me you become such a good actor?" Kar curled his lips.

Byul chuckled and poked his clueless hyung’s forehead. "Hyung, it’s because of you I became an actor in the first place."

"...really?"

See? The man didn’t even remember. "You’re so silly, sometimes," Byul shook his head.

"But you love me anyway, don’t you?"

"Of course!" Byul hugged the esper, sighing against the warm chest. He looked up at the gentle smile on Kar’s face, glowing under the golden light of the sunset. He sighed and reached up to kiss the sharp jaw. "Hyung, I’m sorry..."

Kar frowned. "What for?"

"That’s..." Byul bit his lower lip as he looked at Asa and Julia. He couldn’t continue with his words, feeling rather silly and pathetic, but Kar knew his baby enough to know what Byul was thinking.

"Why? I won’t say it doesn’t matter to me, but we’re already together anyway," Kar stroked the swaying curls. "I will never let you go--if you find me boring, I’ll try my best to become interesting again; if you fall out of love, I’ll try to make you fall for me again."

"That won’t happen," Byul pursed his lips, as if offended by the thought of Kar even thinking about those imaginary moments.

Kar laughed and nodded. "Yeah, so we know we’ll stay together till the end," he flicked the actor’s nose softly. "That’s why I don’t mind waiting for you however long. I know you have to think about your career and everything."

"That’s why I feel sorry," Byul sighed. "We can’t even publish our relationship yet..."

"Baby," Kar gently cupped his baby’s disheartened face; a soft smile carved on his handsome face. "I had made you wait for me for so long. I can do this much."

"...Yeah?"

"Besides, it’s not like we have to live separately," Kar shrugged. "Haven’t we been living like a married couple already?"

Byul could feel heat spreading across his face, but he giggled anyway. Kar was right--they slept together, ate together, did chores together, and spent their free time together. The difference between them and a married couple was merely a ceremony and a stamped certificate by the government.

He sighed and hugged the esper again. "Thank you, Hyung."

Kar smiled and embraced the younger man, stroking the curly hair as he leaned down and kissed the top of the actor’s head. "I want to see you soar, Byul. Because you are born to be a star."

If he had to hold back for that, Kar didn’t mind. Things like legalization could be done anytime; they didn’t even need to think about their parents’ approval. Rather...Kar knew their parents would be livid if they didn’t go until the end.

Currently, it was enough for them to be together. He didn’t care about whether or not the public knew--their closest people already knew, and that was way more important. They only had to watch themselves when they were in public, but they could just have their dates at home. Maybe going for a drive in a tinted car when they get bored. Or the helicopter, visiting Ishtera’s lakehouse.

Of course, he didn’t understand why a celebrity’s career could be in jeopardy just because they had a relationship, but...society was weird like that.

Kar just hoped Byul had a smooth career and fewer hate comments; to enjoy his work as much as possible without caring about useless things. But one day, Kar received a disturbing call.

[Umm...Hyung?]

Kar immediately got up from his office’s desk. "What’s wrong? You didn’t sound well--did something happen at action school?"

The shooting had yet to proceed, but the crank-in was near. All of the actors in action scenes were in the middle of intense training to smoothen their movements and make sure everything looked natural even though they were not real espers.

Byul didn’t really need any practical training since he had been training with Kar at home, but he was still there to bond with the other actors and synchronize their choreography.

Frowning, Kar started to think that Byul had been hurt somehow.

[Uhh, yeah--the thing is...] the voice was heavy, and Kar could hear a frustrated sigh. [Can you...come here, Hyung?]

It didn’t sound like he was in pain, but Byul did sound like he was in distress. "I’ll be there in ten minutes."

Kar closed the call before Byul could reply, and immediately told his assistant that he would leave. Thankfully, he had done with all of his work for the day, and unless a high-ranking gate suddenly appeared, he wouldn’t be needed right away. He took his motorcycle instead of a car and imbued it with mana. Shrouded in stealth, no one saw a flying bike rushing through the sky from the Trinity compound to an action school on the outskirts of the entertainment district.

"You really came in ten minutes..." Byul muttered in a daze.

Kar strode to the actor who was waiting at the front door, frowning. "What’s wrong? Are you alright?"

He wanted to hold Byul right away, but he held back because they were in public. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like there was anything wrong with the actor. At least physically.

"Oh, I’m okay--just..." Byul sighed again and looked up with a wry smile. "Hyung...would you mind...coaching a few actors?"