Chapter 320: CUTE PUPPY

ASTRID just finished filming a scene. He was currently riding a land vehicle with Ellis. They were on their way to the next shooting location. He had already finished shooting everything that needed to be shot at the church yesterday. At least those scenes that didn’t require the other main cast members that weren’t in FS05 currently.

The next scene the would be a scene with Yujin. He felt a bit excited because of it. This would be their first scene together. Hopefully, both of them would live up to the expectations of each other. 

At that time, his Terminal rang. It’s a notification for an incoming message. He opened his Terminal and saw that it was from Wulfric. The first thing he thought was their discussion from the other night finally had a result. He opened the message and read it.

[Wulf: That thing with Lance Reid had been dealt with. But a small problem occurred.]

A problem? Astrid wondered what could have happened. So, he quickly replied;

[What happened?]

[Wulf: It’s a bit hard to explain via message. I know you’re busy right now shooting. So, can you video call me once you’re free? Then, I’ll explain everything.]

So, it’s complicated enough that Wulfric couldn’t simply explain it via text message? – Astrid thought. He started to get curious as to why that was. Somehow, he had a feeling that it would be a bit of a problem. But even though he was curious, he still replied;

[Okay. I’ll call you after lunch.]

He didn’t have any shoot in the afternoon. Director Scott would shoot Yujin’s scenes instead.

Wulfric’s reply was a cute moving emoji of a chibi white wolf giving him a thumbs-up. Then, it was followed by another moving emoji of the same white wolf waving a banner with words ‘good luck with work!’.

“Cute,” he chuckled before closing his Terminal.

“What’s cute?” Ellis, who heard him, asked.

Astrid smiled and turned to the other. “Nothing. A friend just sent a picture of a cute puppy.”

Ellis nodded and didn’t have any doubt. How could she suspect that her artist was actually casually exchanging messages with the only prince of the Empire? 

That’s why when she found out about the relationship of the two in the future and finally put all the pieces together, it would only feel like being hit by something without a warning. 

Of course, that was still an event that would happen in the not so near future.

—–

Arriving at the shooting location, the make-up artist quickly retouched Astrid’s make-up. After that, he walked to the spot where he should be standing. It didn’t take long for Yujin to walk up to him. 

“Are you ready for our scene together?” the other asked.

“Of course. Are you?” Astrid asked in a playful banter.

“I’m actually a bit nervous,” Yujin admitted honestly. “I heard you got almost no NGs in your filming yesterday.”

Astrid fully understood what the other meant by that. Yujin was worried that he couldn’t match his performance. To be able to admit that without showing any negative feelings towards Astrid just showed that the other wasn’t the type to easily envy others. 

That’s a great trait for someone in this industry. At least, it wouldn’t be easy for the other to have inferiority complex. Feeling inferior would only hinder one’s growth. He learned that the hard way during his experience in his past life. 

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine,” he said sincerely. “We’ll both do.”

Yujin smiled at that. He was truly feeling a bit nervous. But after hearing Astrid say that, he became much calmer. His nervousness even disappeared. 

And with that, their filming started.

—–

The scene they’re going to film was when Astrid and Yujin’s characters first met. Even though their characters were half-brothers, the character Yujin played had never met Luan Escanor. 

The king of Ashelad had many children, so some of them not knowing each other personally was not really that strange. Aside from that, Luan also left the palace at a very young age. So, not meeting his other half-siblings was also natural.

Luan was doing his usual charity work at a village that was devastated by two kingdoms’ skirmishes. There, he would meet Oscar Ashelad. 

One would wonder what a prince of a big kingdom was doing in such a village. Well, the audience wouldn’t know that he was actually a prince. At least those who weren’t familiar with the source material wouldn’t. 

This was actually the first scene where Yujin’s character would be introduced. He wouldn’t introduce himself as a prince but a wanderer instead. Which was not totally wrong in a sense. After all, at that point, Oscar was truly living like a wanderer. It’s also because of his travels that he met the protagonist of the story and became the other’s comrade.

In this scene, Luan was helping with the nuns, cooking food for the villagers. Priests don’t usually don things like this. Most of them had high egos and thought that they were above such things. But Luan was different. Despite his over-the-top sense of justice, he sincerely wanted to help the people.

“Sir Luan, I think it’s better for you to go out and walk around the village with the other priests,” one nun said.

“No, I’d rather be here,” Astrid said with a smile. “We don’t have much manpower. At least with me helping, we can cook faster. Then, the villagers could finally have a warm meal.” He continued to cut the vegetable he’s chopping. “They at least have to know that there are still people out there who thinks that they are not just collaterals in this never-ending war.” 

The women playing nuns looked at Astrid with reverence, showing how much his words touched them. It was easy for them to show such an expression. Not because it was easy but because Astrid made it easy for them. It’s like he brought them to the scene. Something that they didn’t even notice.

And then the moment was broken when an obviously drunk man traipsed inside the kitchen where they were.

“Oh, I think I entered the wrong room,” Yujin said with a sloppy grin.