Chapter 27

“I’M not sure if this wine fits our noodles, but I’d like to make a toss, so…” Julian opened a bottle of wine and filled their glasses.
“Well…” She shrugged. “What we want is what matters anyway.”
Prudence picked up her wine glass gracefully and tossed it with him afterward.
They took their first sips without taking their gazes off each other. For some reason, it made her cheeks burn. However, she wasn’t sure if that even affected him the same way. Perhaps not?
*Whatever…*
She heaved a sigh as she put her glass down.
“Let’s dig in before the noodles get cold and soggy.” He gestured at their food.
“Thank you for the meal.” Prudence picked up the pair of chopsticks and started eating.
Julian made jjamppong noodles for dinner. She has a low tolerance for spicy foods, so he made it mild out of consideration. It was another thing she didn’t expect from him.
“So, tell me about yourself, Prudence.” He glanced at her while slurping his noodles out of his bowl.
She couldn’t help but raise a brow. Were they playing teacher-student during the first day of school? Why did she have to tell him about herself?
Prudence wiped her lips with the table napkin and looked at him intently.
“And here I thought you already knew everything about me.”
“Disappointing, isn’t it?” He leaned against his seat and met her gaze.
“Kind of.” She waved her hand outwardly. “I thought you heard much about me… from Chase or your father.”
“I’m sorry to say this, Prudence, but… you’re someone who was out of my interest back then. I don’t interfere with my brother’s affairs that much.”
“So, you’re the type of person who loves to mind his business.” She tilted her head to the side.
“Isn’t it how it’s supposed to be?”
“I think I must agree with you.” She picked up her glass again. “Cheers.”
Julian chuckled softly and tossed with her. Somehow, she was feeling a little more comfortable with him now.
She took a few sips and looked at Julian afterward. He was looking at her that very moment she turned her gaze at him. Prudence couldn’t help but wonder if he had been staring at her while she was drinking. It didn’t only make her stomach flutter, but she also felt conscious.
*Darn, is this feeling even right?*
She was starting to think that she was sick in the head.
Everything she was feeling at that moment was strange. It was so new to her that she quite didn’t understand herself. Prudence wished she would succeed despite that destruction—and that was Julian.
“Would you mind if I ask you something?”
“I don’t mind.” She shrugged. “What is it?”
“Are you really…” He paused and pressed his lips firmly. It seemed he was having second thoughts if he would continue or not.
“Julian?” she probed.
He shook his head and heaved a deep sigh.
“Let me rephrase my question.”
She folded her arms over her chest.
“Go on.”
“Isn’t this against your will, Prudence? I mean… you’re a person, and you have feelings. I bet you feel suffocated sometimes. Your job’s basically your family’s pawn.” Again, there was something she didn’t expect for the nth time—concern.
But why would Julian be concerned about her?
Prudence hid her hands under the table and started fidgeting. Suddenly she was feeling anxious. Damn, he was the only person who made her feel like that so quickly. What was with him, really?
“I… already accepted my fate.” Her voice was almost a whisper.
When she started working as a spy, Prudence already accepted the fact that she was a pawn and that her life could be in danger if she didn’t follow her boss’s orders. Perhaps it was something Julian wouldn’t understand because he was part of the Whitewood family. If he happened to make mistakes, he would only get punished but not killed. He would always be protected.
“What if… we make a deal.”
She raised her head and met his gaze. He looked dead serious at that moment; there was no hint of deception.
“A-a deal?” Her forehead creased.
He reminded her of his father. Francis also offered her a deal, a fair one. She wondered if Julian would also offer her something she could benefit from.
“I… I want this to work.” Julian heaved a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. He didn’t look exasperated, though. He was desperate. “The elders are putting too much pressure on my father and me.”
She understood where he was coming from. Julian has always been the underdog, and now he has got to get under the spotlight. However, the circumstances weren’t that nice.
“And what do you want me to do then?” Prudence grew curious about what could be her role in his charade.
“Let’s not be the cause of each other’s troubles and disappointments.” He held out his hand to her.
She stared at his hand for a few moments before shaking hands with Julian.
“Deal.” She smiled. His idea wasn’t that bad at all. It could somehow help her do her job easily. “So, what are we now?”
“I guess we can be friends now….”
They both laughed at that.
Julian then filled their glasses again with wine.
“You haven’t told me about yourself yet,” he said afterward.
“Now I’ve finally won your interest.” Prudence cocked her head to the side.
“Well…” He took a couple of gulps. “Now that we’re starting to spend time together, I’m slowly—” She choked on her wine and coughed. “Hey, are you alright?”
He was quick to leave his seat and went to her side immediately. Prudence felt his hand caressing her back up and down. But instead of calming her, that gesture instantly brought chaos to her system.
“I-I’m fine,” she told him as she gently moved away. “I just… I need to use the restroom.” She rose from her seat.
“Let me take you there.” Julian held her by the arm and ushered her to the restroom.
He even made sure she was inside before pulling the door close.
Prudence took a series of deep breaths and washed her face afterward. The coldness of the water from the faucet made her calm down a little.