Chapter 25
Party and Preparation
Sunday morning, exactly at 6 a.m., Lucius was already awake, lost in thought.
'Hmm... Should I ask for confirmation about the schedule? They won't change it because of the restrictions, right? But... it's the government who's imposing travel restrictions. I guess I should ask Chief Song.'
Still lying in bed, Lucius reached for his smartphone and began typing a polite message to Song Im-Hyun.
Lucia: Sir, I'm sorry for messaging you this early. I just wanted to ask about something.
Lucia: It's about the departure. My country's government just announced new restrictions on air travel. Will this change the plan? What should I do?
He considered sending another message explaining the situation about hiding in a secluded place due to a military operation—but ultimately decided against it.
'I should keep that for later. If I send that now, Chief Song might see me as someone who complains too much or is too casual. Let's wait for his confirmation first.'
He got up from the bed and looked over to the second bed on his right, where Eve was still sleeping soundly. Sophia was nowhere to be seen.
Glancing toward the bathroom door, he assumed she might be taking a shower or handling morning routines. But just as he was about to head to the couch to wait his turn, Sophia entered the room from the balcony.
"Oh! Sister Sophia, I thought you were in the bathroom. Isn't it a bit cold outside? Were you watching the sunrise?"
Sophia's face was indeed a little red from the cold. After closing the balcony door, she walked past Lucius toward the couch and flopped down, rubbing her hands together to warm up.
"Yeah... I thought about the sunrise you showed in your video before, and I wanted to see it for myself. It was worth it. But I really should've brought a blanket and a sweater next time—haha."
Lucius smiled and sat beside her. "How about taking a warm shower?"
Sophia nodded and stood up, giving him a gentle smile. "Alright, I won't take long. I know you want to use the bathroom. Actually—are you in a hurry? I can shower after you're done."
Lucius shook his head, still smiling. "I'm not in a hurry. I can hold it."
Sophia hesitated, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Luci... you know, a girl's body is different. You can't hold it as long as guys do. How about you go now, or you'll regret it later?"
A sudden realization hit him. Still trying to hold his bladder, he understood that if he didn't act soon, it might leak. With an awkward smile, he rushed to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, he emerged looking refreshed and saw Sophia standing by the suitcase with a change of clothes in hand.
"Sister Sophia! I'm done!"
Sophia turned away from the suitcase and walked toward him with a knowing smile. She stopped in front of him.
"Told you. Good thing I knew—otherwise, you might've had to barge into the bathroom while I was showering. So remember this next time."
Lucius smiled awkwardly. As Sophia entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her, he made his way to the couch.
'Huft... This is the builder's fault. Why did they put the toilet inside the bathroom when the room is this big?'
'Yeah... I know it's the norm here, but for a house this large, they should've made a separate toilet and shower area.'
Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a notification sound from the smartphone lying on the bed.
He quickly rushed over, hoping it was a reply from Chief Song.
Standing between the two beds, Lucius checked the notification—only to find that it was from Edward.
Almost disappointed that it wasn't from Song Im-Hyun, his mood shifted immediately after reading Edward's message.
—
Edward: Bro! I've got an update on the new policy! They're holding a closed meeting for the official appeals this afternoon!
Lucius's heart skipped a beat at the news. He immediately began typing a response.
Lucius: Let's hope it's a success. If not, this might crush our only real hope from the government…
Edward: Let's pray it works out. Actually, my parents are already on their way to meet someone important. They want to help in any way they can to get the appeal accepted.
Lucius frowned—not because of Edward's parents' efforts, but because of the thought that their involvement might expose them to manipulation or corruption.
He typed a warning, hoping Edward would consider the potential risk.
Lucius: Yeah, let's hope for the best. But dude... tell your parents to be careful about any kind of exploitation—especially anything that might fall into the "red zone" like bribery or illegal gratification. I don't want your family to get into trouble. Politics is a scary place.
A few minutes passed before Edward's reply arrived. Lucius could tell he had spent time typing, likely rewriting and thinking carefully, though the final message wasn't long.
Edward: Hahaha, bro… don't worry about that. My parents know how dirty politics can get. That's how they've survived this long—and how they've built their wealth. They've mastered the art of navigating and exploiting the system while avoiding getting burned. I know it's shady, but that's how the rich stay afloat. Still, I'll remind them to be careful. Being cautious is always a good habit. Thanks for the reminder.
Then, another quick message followed.
Edward: Anyway, let's meet in the main dining room for breakfast. Oh, it's at 8 a.m., so don't be late!
Lucius replied quickly, still thinking about Edward's previous message.
Lucius: Don't worry—we'll be there on time. See you later.
Edward ended the chat with a sticker, and Lucius responded with one too.
With the conversation wrapped up, Lucius was finally able to refocus on his own thoughts.
'Wow… I really don't understand how rich people live. I guess Edward wasn't exaggerating—his family really is insanely wealthy. And it makes sense that they'd have government connections.'
'But why don't I ever hear about any scandals or shady business tied to them? Are all their moves that well-concealed from the media? Is that how they keep their business clean in the public eye?'
'Well... who knows. It's not like I plan to get involved in politics. I hate politics. Still, I should stay aware, even if I don't want to be part of that world.'
---
While Lucius stood deep in thought, Eve had already woken up and was observing him curiously.
The moment he snapped out of his thoughts, Eve sprang into action.
"Brother! What are you thinking about so hard this early in the morning?"
Luckily, Lucius's sixth sense had already picked up on Eve's presence and her mischievous energy—so he wasn't startled.
"Just something about politics. Anyway, breakfast's at 8 a.m., so go get ready."
Before he could finish his sentence, Luse popped out of nowhere, floating in front of Eve.
Distracted by the sudden appearance, Eve didn't quite catch what Lucius said.
"Huh? What? Sorry, Brother—hehe," she said with a grin.
Lucius shook his head and sighed at her antics. "I said—breakfast is at 8 a.m. Get ready before then."
He retrieved a change of clothes from the shared suitcase and made his way toward the couch to wait for Sophia.
Just before he reached the couch, the bathroom door opened. Sophia stepped out, looking refreshed.
Lucius was about to head in—but Eve suddenly darted ahead of him and cut in line, clearly in a hurry.
"Sorry, Brother! Let me go first, just for a moment!"
It was obvious her bladder was at its limit. Lucius could only shake his head and laugh weakly.
"Eve… really?... Hahaha."
They all continued their morning routines—changing clothes and preparing for the day.
---
By the time it was nearly 8 a.m., Lucius and his sisters stepped out of the bedroom and headed toward the main dining area on the first floor. Along the way, they bumped into Edward.
As usual, they greeted one another, and Edward took the lead, guiding them to the dining room.
The breakfast wasn't especially extravagant, but it still earned an enthusiastic reaction from the siblings.
After finishing their meal, Edward brought them to a small movie theater beside the first-floor living room.
The siblings couldn't hide their surprise—it was their first time watching a film in a private theater inside a villa.
Once the movie ended, they still had about an hour before lunchtime. Edward, not wanting the fun to end, decided to surprise them again.
He brought them to the karaoke room. By now, the siblings were starting to get used to the luxury. They reacted less, simply accepting the extravagance around them.
They enjoyed the karaoke session, and the star of the show was none other than Lucius—now Lucia—who took full advantage of her new, beautiful voice. She sang with passion and grace, finally unleashing her full potential.
Eve didn't forget to capture the moment—recording videos on her phone and occasionally snapping pictures and selfies.
When lunchtime arrived, they were treated to another feast. This time, the theme was signature dishes from around the world. Plates from various countries filled the table, and the chefs did their best to ensure every dish tasted authentic and full of flavor.
---
From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the group enjoyed a variety of games in the second living room, which had been rearranged to better suit their activities—card games, console games, and party games.
At this point, the atmosphere had become completely comfortable. There was no more awkwardness between the siblings and Edward. Even Sophia had grown more open and relaxed around him.
After hours of fun, everyone had worked up an appetite. Edward, ever the planner, had already arranged for a barbecue at 5:30 p.m. on the terrace of the second living room.
At 5:15 p.m., he called the manager to bring out the tools and ingredients.
Once the preparations were done, they all eagerly got started. After the staff lit the grill and left the area, the group got to work.
Everyone—except for Sophia—immediately grabbed a pair of tongs and began loading the grill with various proteins: meat, chicken, sausages, and more.
Seeing that no one had placed any vegetables, Sophia calmly added them to the remaining space on the grill.
They grilled and ate while enjoying the stunning sunset view. The barbecue continued well past 8 p.m., and someone's appetite seemed never-ending.
That someone was Lucius. He devoured an absurd amount of meat, seemingly without pause. If it weren't for Sophia adding vegetables to his plate, he might have eaten nothing but meat all evening.
On the side, Edward chuckled as he watched Lucius.
"Luci, you really haven't changed, hahaha. Even after the transformation, you still eat a ton of meat. I think your stomach didn't shrink—actually, it might've gotten even bigger!"
Eve chimed in,
"Right... Bro—uh, Sister Lucy has always been like that. When there's a chance to eat for free, she never wastes it. She focuses on what's most worth the money."
While Lucia kept grilling meat nonstop, Eve and Edward occasionally snatched a few pieces from her plate. Meanwhile, Sophia leaned against the railing, her gaze fixed on Luse, who floated visibly atop a large tree just a few meters away from the terrace.
Before the barbecue began, Eve had ordered Luse to keep watch over the area. If any spirits or strange phenomena appeared, Luse was to alert her. The spirit seemed comfortable with the task—partly because Luse didn't enjoy being near fire. Judging from its behavior, everyone suspected it was due to the elemental difference. Wood or wind spirits just didn't mix well with fire.
Suddenly, Lucia's phone rang.
"Huh? Who's calling at 8 PM? …Oh—Chief Song!"
After seeing the name, Lucia quickly set her plate down and walked inside.
Edward, Eve, and Sophia immediately stopped what they were doing, instinctively sensing the importance of the call and trying not to make any noise.
Stopping at the entrance of the terrace, Lucia answered the phone.
{"Good evening, Chief Song."}
{"Good evening, Lucia. Sorry for calling so suddenly. I was about to reply to your message, but I figured a call would be better.
"So… about the departure. We've received updated information regarding travel restrictions. We've been working around it since yesterday and—fortunately—we managed to secure an exception, though it came after some disagreement from the other side.
"We won't be changing the departure time, but the location for boarding the plane has changed. It'll now take place at a restricted military base.
"And here's the tricky part—we need to transport you there in full disguise and under total secrecy. Not even the military personnel at the base can know who you are."}
Lucia unconsciously placed her hand over her chin and mouth—a nervous habit. Everyone around her could tell the news wasn't light. They slowly approached her, offering silent reassurance.
{"So Lucia, it's best if you go to a hotel or somewhere unrelated to your family or friends. Arrive in disguise and get there using public transport or a vehicle operated by someone unconnected to you.
"You should get there before Tuesday—ideally tomorrow. Do you understand?"}
Lucia nodded instinctively, then responded firmly.
{"Yes, Chief! I'll go to a hotel alone tomorrow afternoon. I'll use public transport or unrelated-party vehicles, and I'll wear some kind of disguise. I'll wait there until Tuesday.
{"But… Chief, I have a few questions."}
{"Sure, go ahead."}
{"About the hotel… how do I check in or out if I don't have valid identification?"}
Chief Song sighed audibly.
{"Fortunately, your temporary forged identity has been completed. It should fool anyone, as we've already registered it in our system under South Korean citizenship.
"The only problem is if the police get involved—they might track your entry date and discover you entered the country through unofficial channels, since your arrival isn't logged in immigration records.
"So we need to act quickly. You can check in tomorrow evening to minimize your exposure. Our team is already en route; they'll pick you up Tuesday morning."}
Lucia quietly exhaled, relieved. She'd been granted more time for goodbyes—to her family, to her friends, and to prepare her sisters for what was to come.
She offered her gratitude sincerely.
{"Thank you for the explanation, Chief Song. And thank you for giving me enough time to say farewell to my family and friends."}
{"Haha, no problem, Lucia. I'm glad you'll be able to give them a proper goodbye.
"Anyway, that's all for now. Just send your hotel coordinates after you arrive. See you later, and good night."}
{ "Good night to you too, Sir."}
After ending the call, Lucia took a deep breath and turned to explain everything to the others.
Edward, visibly concerned about Lucia traveling alone, immediately offered to help. He promised to find a trusted driver—preferably a woman—unrelated to him or his family, to safely take Lucia to the hotel.
With that, the night continued. They finished the barbecue party and returned to their rooms. Of course, no one forgot to shower and wash off the smoky scent from their bodies.
Tomorrow would be packed with emotional farewells, and for that, they all needed a proper night's rest.