For Your Failed Unrequited Love

“That’s amazing. I thought it was just a common weed growing all over the place.”

“Sometimes even weeds can be used as medicine.” Lucy finished explaining the flower. Then she smiled, a shy smile as if she was embarrassed to find herself talking too much.

“Oh, come to think of it, I know this grass.” Felix found grass with broad leaves around him and picked it up without hesitation. “This is a plant called Moganara. You chew it like this.” He stuck the leaf in his mouth and chewed it a few times. After that, he placed the spewed leaves on his forearm. “If you put it on an itchy area, it will feel less inflamed and itchy.”

He then looked at Lucy with a ‘right?’ face. “Since I have allergies, I can only remember the efficacy of this herb. I don’t know about anything else.”

“Yes. You remember it well. Besides, Moganara grass is a common weed, so you can just pick it up and use it anytime.” Lucy smiled and praised Felix.

Felix felt his heart pound once more, seeing Lucy’s smile directed at him.

I can’t believe I’m so happy with just one smile.

Felix felt like a fool.

Yes, this is fine for now. If only I can be with you like this.

“Felix!”

The peace of the vacant lot was disrupted by the sound of someone calling him out, followed by the sound of rushed footsteps. Felix turned around. It was his friend Alec. 

Alec crossed the garden at once and stopped in front of Felix, gasping for breath. “Felix, you have to go back to the academy now!”

“What’s going on?”

“The Duke of Berg is here. He– He’s waiting for you in the principal’s office.”

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“Father?” Felix’s face darkened considerably. The Duke’s visit to the Academy was unexpected.

What about the opening ceremony? Today is definitely the opening ceremony of the Libourg Port. It is an important event, so why is the duke here?

“Felix sunbae.” Lucy called him. She also seemed surprised by the duke’s sudden visit. “Go ahead.”

“Lucy.” Felix bit his lips. The happy moment they shared vanished in an instant as if it had been cut out. “…Okay. I’m sorry. Let’s study together later.”

At his words, Lucy quietly nodded her head.

Felix began to walk away. As he left the garden, he casually looked back. Lucy was standing at the same spot, staring at him. Felix’s heart was as heavy as a rock; he had failed to keep his promise to Lucy. He didn’t care about his father’s visit.

* * *

Felix knocked on the door to the principal office.

“Come in.”

The voice that answered was not that of the principal. When Felix opened the door and entered, the Duke of Berg was standing with his back turned. He stood in front of a large window, looking out over the wide campus landscape.

In the presence of Felix, the duke slowly turned around. He had dazzling blonde hair and large stature. As he looked at Felix, his expression was so cold that it didn’t look like he was looking at his son, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. 

But it wasn’t his father’s expression that caught Felix’s eyes. It was his face, which had become so emaciated that he couldn’t even recognize him. The cheekbones protruded over his cheek, and his eyes were dull with dark shadows underneath. His face, which had been leaner in just a few months due to heavy work, looked more sickly and creepier.

When the Duke looked at him and said nothing, Felix opened his mouth first. “Why aren’t you at the opening ceremony, father? Isn’t that an event that you must attend?” 

With a tone as dry as his expression, the duke answered, “Don’t worry. Prince Berg is present at the opening ceremony instead of me.”

At that, Felix raised an eyebrow. “You mean Adrian is there?”

He only thought that his younger brother had gone to the duchy to see his mother. Adrian did not mention anything about the opening ceremony. 

The Duke laughed at his question. “Yes, Adrian… But he attended as Prince Felix Berg.” 

Felix’s face gradually distorted. “Did you tell Adrian to pretend to be me at the opening ceremony?”

“You unilaterally notified me of your absence, so I sent Adrian. Who would recognize you if you have the same face anyway?” The duke replied harshly.

Felix clenched his fists. His anger soared. His brother had been used as his substitute, a fact he didn’t know of until now. The duke’s carefree face made him more furious. He had no qualms about treating his son as someone else’s substitute.

“Why do you look angry?” the duke asked, eyes fixed on him. “You unilaterally notified me of your absence. You should have expected this, right?”

“I told you. It’s because I’m preparing for the exam.”

“Oh right, the exam. Hopefully, it wasn’t like last time.” The duke sarcastically reminded Felix of his previous action —leaving the answers blank. “Well,” the duke continued, “it’s a pleasure for me if you’re determined to study hard…

“Even if you come to your senses, I wonder if anything will change significantly. It’s not like your grades will go up in such a short time. So, I also want to give you one piece of advice. I’ll show you a sure way to get to the top at once.” A smile slowly came to the Duke’s face. It wasn’t a pleasant smile.  “For this exam, write Adrian on your answer sheet.”

“Father.” Felix frowned at once, staring at the duke. “Are you crazy?”

Slap!

Felix’s head turned at the sudden slap. 

“Watch what you say.” the duke warned, lowering his hand slowly.

Felix bit his lip. “Don’t use Adrian,” he growled. “I have no intention of obeying you. I will write my name on the test paper and submit it.”

“Really?” the duke snorted. “But what should I do? Adrian already agreed to do it.” the duke smirked as he gave Felix a once over. “The principal will be very upset, but it doesn’t matter.”

“Father!” Felix shouted. 

But the next moment, the Duke bared his teeth to Felix, enraged. “It’s all because you didn’t listen to me! How dare you neglect your family’s business and do what you want?” 

A face as pale as a corpse flashed in front of Felix’s eyes.

“All this time, I’ve been ignoring your insincere and selfish behavior, but I can’t tolerate this!” The duke stepped back. As if to calm down, he stood in front of the window for a moment and looked at the scenery of the campus. “I hope this will never happen again, Felix.”

After a while, he lowered his voice and muttered a warning, “In the future, whenever you don’t listen to me, Adrian will make up for what you’ve done. Just like today. Try to disobey me again.”

Felix stood still and clenched his fists. He gripped it so tightly that his fingernails were digging into his flesh. Anxiety that Adrian might be used for his sake and a sense of helplessness filled his heart.

“The day you succeed me, you will manage all the business and land of the family. Even if you work hard, it won’t be enough,” said the duke, still looking at the window.

“Then don’t use Adrian. Adrian is also your son, just like me. He deserves an equal share of your fortune, father. It’s not like he’s going to take advantage of it.’

The duke turned slowly. “It is his fate. Just because you were born at the same time on the same day doesn’t mean your fate is the same. The second son’s role is not to covet the successor’s position but to assist his older brother, who leads the family. That is his only role.” The duke’s eyes gleamed sharply as he added, “It means that Berg’s legacy cannot be split under any circumstances.”

* * *

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It was well after midnight when Adrian returned to the dormitory. As he quietly entered the dark room, he stopped in surprise when he saw someone sitting on the bed.

Soon after recognizing his brother’s face in the dim moonlight, he carefully opened his mouth. “…Felix, why aren’t you sleeping?”

Felix got up without answering and lit the candle. In the brightly lit room, two identical faces flickered in the light.

Felix looked at his brother’s face silently. Adrian —who traveled back and forth from the Academy to Libourg in two days— was tired.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Felix finally asked. His face was filled with regret and anger at the same time. 

Adrian avoided his gaze and took off his coat. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you. I thought you wouldn’t stay still if I said I was going to the opening ceremony.”

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“Of course, I won’t stay still! Why are you acting like our father’s puppet?”

“Felix.”

“And what do you mean by changing the name of our test paper? Did you really agree to do that?” 

“Yeah, I decided to do that.”

“What are you…. ” Felix was speechless at Adrian’s unwavering answer. “What did father do to you?”