Resemblance

Rin stared out the window of his carriage. The rain had finally stopped, leaving the streets damp and glistening under the dim glow of the lanterns. It was late at night, and only the knights patrolling the capital could be seen outside. He sighed.

If only his brother had listened, he wouldn't have to be out here searching for him.

The carriage rolled to a stop in front of a well-lit brothel. Rin stepped out, his gaze landing on the name carved into the wooden sign above the entrance. He already knew Ran was inside. After all, he had known his brother for years—knew his habits, his tendencies.

Ran and Rin. Sons of Raon and Kaye.

Though they shared blood, they couldn't have been more different. Ran was a womanizer, always eager to flirt and indulge in pleasure. Rin, on the other hand, was reserved, distant—more inclined to lose himself in his favorite music than in the company of women. Both were intelligent, both skilled in combat. Rin was a master of wrestling, while Ran excelled in weaponry, particularly cane de combat. And despite being calm all the time, Ran fights more brutally than Rin.

Rin stepped into the brothel, approaching a worker who quickly led him to a private room. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open.

Inside, his brother lay sprawled across the bed, two women draped lazily beside him, their breathing slow and even. Ran, deep in slumber, seemed utterly unbothered by their situation—as if they weren't stranded in a foreign world.

Rin clenched his jaw.

Without warning, he smacked Ran's arm.

"The hell?" Ran groaned, jolting awake. He blinked, groggy, then massaged his forehead.

"The head butler is looking for you. Do you have any idea how important tomorrow is?" Rin said, arms crossed.

"Ah... right," Ran muttered, yawning.

"Let's go. I have no intention of being scolded alongside you." Rin turned on his heel and walked out.

Ran smirked, pressing a quick kiss to each of the women before gathering his clothes. After dressing, he strolled outside, where Rin was already waiting near the carriage.

"How'd you find me?" Ran asked, grinning.

Rin shot him a deadpan look. "If there's a brothel, you're in it. It's not exactly difficult." He stepped into the carriage.

Chuckling, Ran followed, settling into the seat across from his brother.

"The head butler was hysterical when he found out you'd snuck out," Rin said. "He pestered me until I came to get you."

Ran shrugged. "Come on, I just wanted to have a little fun. This world is boring."

Rin's expression darkened slightly. "We need to be careful. This empire is on the brink of war. We're lucky they mistook us for the late Duke of the North's illegitimate sons. If not for that, we'd still be out on the streets, begging for food."

Ran leaned back, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "The sons of the Duke… I still can't believe how much that man resembled our father."

The memory was still fresh.

When they first arrived in this world, they had found themselves stranded in the capital, parts of which had been left in ruins after a recent attack. Lost and searching for shelter, they hadn't expected a carriage to suddenly stop before them.

A butler stepped out, his face a mix of shock and hope. He bombarded them with questions, insisting that they might be the sons of the late Duke because they resembled him. He speculated that the late Duke may have fathered illegitimate sons during his expedition before his untimely death.

Prince Hendrik, the only heir of the late Duke, was missing. So when someone with a blood connection to the Duke appeared, it became a golden opportunity for the household—they desperately needed someone to take charge and manage it.

Desperate and with nowhere else to turn, Ran and Rin had gone with him.

Then came the portrait.

A painting of Duke Claudius hung in the mansion, and the resemblance to their real father, Raon, was uncanny. In their surprise, they had slipped—calling him "Father." That had been enough for the butler, who declared that they would stay in the mansion from that day forward.

An opportunity had fallen right into their laps. And they had taken it.

"We just have to keep playing the role until the real heir returns," Rin murmured, referring to the missing prince, Hendrik.

Ran, however, didn't care about any of that. His only concern was finding a way home.

"By the way," he said, glancing out the carriage window, "have you heard? The border was attacked again."

Rin's gaze sharpened. "The head butler mentioned it. He's worried."

Ran hummed. "Sooner or later, the capital will be under siege, too. We need to start planning our escape. There's no reason for us to get caught up in this war. Our goal is to find a way home, nothing more."

Rin nodded, but then a mischievous grin crossed his face. He held up a small, ornate key.

Ran raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"A key to our fortune." Rin twirled it between his fingers. "I found this in the late Duke's chambers. And guess what? It unlocks a hidden room full of gold and treasures."

Ran smirked. "Now that's what I like to hear. Guess we won't have to worry about money after all."

The two exchanged a victorious high five.

Their path home was still uncertain.

But at the very least, they wouldn't be broke along the way.

.

.

....

The next morning...

Jinny woke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. She yawned and sat up, stretching as a soft smile spread across her lips.

Last night had been unforgettable—a night etched into her memory.

Her thoughts drifted to Yehuda, and her smile deepened.

But before she could bask in the warmth of those memories, a loud blast of horns shattered the morning calm.

"W-What's that?" She gasped, quickly getting out of bed and rushing to the window.

Outside, the courtyard was a flurry of movement. Knights hurried about, their armor glinting under the early sunlight. Her breath caught in her throat as realization struck.

The war.

She remembered what Yehuda had told her the night before—they were setting out for the border today.

Without wasting a second, she threw on a dress, tied her hair back, and bolted out of the room. Her heart pounded as she ran through the palace halls, pushing past startled servants. By the time she reached the entrance, the knights were already assembled.

Another horn sounded.

The formation shifted. The march began.

Panic surged in her chest. Her eyes darted across the lines of soldiers, searching desperately—until she found him.

Yehuda was in the middle ranks, his expression firm, his steps steady as he moved forward with his comrades.

"Sir Yehuda!" she cried out.

The other servants whispered among themselves, watching her with curiosity and disapproval. But Jinny didn't care. She had to see him. She had to say goodbye.

"Sir Yehuda!" she called again, louder this time.

Finally, he heard her. Yehuda turned his head, his sharp gaze softening when it landed on her.

Jinny waved. "I promise I'll wait for your return!" she shouted, her voice filled with emotion.

For a moment, Yehuda didn't move. Then, slowly, he smiled and nodded before turning back toward the path ahead, resuming his march.

Tears welled up in Jinny's eyes as she clutched her chest.

I promise I'll wait for you… So please… Please be safe.

...

High above, watching from the palace balcony, Matias observed everything.

His gaze followed Jinny as she stood there, watching the troops disappear into the distance.

The head butler approached him, leaning in to whisper.

So… there really is something going on between them.

Matias said nothing, his piercing eyes locked onto Jinny.

Whatever had just unfolded before him—it was worth paying attention to.

.

.

After the troops had departed, Jinny returned to her work, though her thoughts remained elsewhere.

"So… what's going on between you and Sir Yehuda?" Nene teased, sidling up beside her. "I saw you earlier—shouting his name like a love-struck maiden."

Jinny's cheeks flushed, but she couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. She glanced around, ensuring no one else was listening, before leaning in to whisper.

"Sir Yehuda proposed to me last night. He said he's going to marry me after the war."

Nene's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. "Really?"

Jinny nodded, her smile growing.

"I'm so happy for you!" Nene beamed.

"But…" Jinny hesitated, her fingers brushing against the hem of her dress. "I'm a little worried about our age gap."

Nene frowned. "What do you mean? I don't see a problem at all."

"You see… I'm only seventeen," Jinny admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

At that, Nene burst into laughter. "Oh, come on! That's not an issue in the slightest. Age doesn't matter here—status does. As long as you have the right standing, you can marry at any age. Some nobles get engaged as children." She leaned in conspiratorially. "Don't you know? There are noblemen in their thirties marrying teenage girls."

Jinny's eyes widened in surprise. So there's no issue at all?

She had always thought Yehuda looked about the same age as her older brothers. But if society didn't see a problem with it, then perhaps… she had been overthinking.

But how would she explain it to her parents when she returned home?

They would all be shocked—especially her strict brothers. She dreaded their reaction, afraid they would object immediately.

Jinny shook her head, pushing the thought away. This isn't the time to worry about that.

Besides, she still had no idea how to return home in the first place.

But one thing was certain—before she left, she would ask Yehuda to come with her.

No matter what it takes… she wanted him by her side in her world.

After her brief conversation with Nene, Jinny made her way toward the emperor's chambers.

As she walked through the grand hall, she came to an abrupt stop in front of a towering portrait.

It was Emperor Matias.

Her gaze lingered on his sharp features, her brows knitting together in thought.

Hmm…

There was something oddly familiar about him.

It suddenly struck her—he bore a resemblance to her older brother, Maikell. The only difference was that Matias appeared a bit older, likely in his mid-thirties, whereas Maikell was twenty-seven. And, of course, the emperor's striking red eyes set him apart.

Maybe it was just a coincidence that someone in this world resembled her brother.

But…

She couldn't help but wonder—how were her brothers doing right now?

Would she ever see them again?

A pang of longing filled her chest.