Solo For Two

Karel tried to lift the man a bit, but the man’s neck weakly fell back without any resistance.

“Hey, try to open your eyes a bit.”

The man responded with a faint groan. Karel went downstairs to get some soup for the patient, hoping he could eat.

Surprisingly, Julian was already up in the lobby, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee when Karel got there.

Karel approached Julian, feeling a bit flustered by the unexpected sight.

“Sleeping in, huh?”

“I slept enough. Do you know what time it is?”

Only then did Karel glance at the clock. It was closer to lunchtime than breakfast. Karel slumped into a chair opposite Julian. Julian asked, seeming puzzled.

“What’s with you? You’re up later than me.”

“Hmm…”

“Let’s go, let’s have lunch.”

Karel nodded silently. Without even considering getting up from his chair.

“It was quite chilly last night. I feel like having some clam chowder. Let’s ask the innkeeper if there’s a good place nearby.”

Julian picked up his coat as if he was about to leave immediately. Realizing the situation he hadn’t anticipated, Karel felt a sense of defeat.

Seeing Karel, who rarely got up early, Julian asked again as if coaxing him.

“Karel, should I get your coat?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Then hurry and get it from your room. I’m hungry.”

Karel hesitated for a moment. Should he tell the truth?

That the man from last night was in his room, and he needed medical attention now that he had a fever.

There was no reason to hide it, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Perhaps because Julian had shown interest in the man first. Those who had never experienced material abundance were often impressed by Julian’s acts of charity. Julian easily gained favor with such impoverished people, using money as leverage.

“I don’t want to show it.”

He didn’t want to expose the stranger’s face and beautiful body, nor did he want to engage in conversation with the two of them in a foreign language that he wouldn’t understand.

Meanwhile, the waiter, who had come to clear the coffee cups, naturally noticed Julian putting on his coat. The angle of Julian’s raised eyebrows, directed at Karel, who still hadn’t gotten up, was not normal. Karel finally got up from his seat.

When he entered the room, the man was still asleep.

Karel glanced at the man quietly while putting on his coat. Should he wake him up? But he didn’t have anything specific to say, so he just quietly left the room.

Outside, even though it was daytime, the sky was low and overcast with thick clouds. Dead leaves trembled in the wind, falling from the branches.

Julian had been silently watching Karel the whole time, but when Karel continued to gaze into the distance without noticing the rhythmic tapping of his fingers on the table, Julian almost fell for Karel’s calm demeanor. If he hadn’t checked it himself, he wouldn’t have known that Karel was hiding something.

Just before they left the inn, Julian “coincidentally” witnessed Karel asking something of the servant. Karel’s instructions were met with a vigorous nod from the servant, who then hurried off to the kitchen.

“What did you just do?”

“What?”

Karel brushed it off casually, without any hint of hesitation or additional explanation.

Julian narrowed his eyes and glanced suspiciously at Karel’s back for a moment.

The sturdy neck, broad shoulders covered by the coat’s straight lines. Despite the attire being no different from any other gentleman’s, there was a particularly “conservative” atmosphere about Karel. It was a demeanor that everyone in high society would go crazy for. Maybe it was his truthful and solemn personality, which had never tasted a lie…

And Julian was well aware that his younger brother’s nature was indeed gentlemanly and lacked flexibility in reality.

Knowing that Karel wanted to hide something, Julian didn’t ask any further.

“No need to force yourself to tell me.”

Instead, Julian secretly slipped away from Karel and quickly made his way to Karel’s room.

Coincidentally, the servant who had just prepared a simple meal was walking down the hallway. Julian called him over and asked, “Why are you taking the meal to an empty room?”

“Oh, sir. The room isn’t empty.”

“Really?”

“In fact, there’s a patient in there.”

A patient?

Curiosity suddenly sparked in Julian’s mind, and he gestured for the servant to come closer.

“…Give it to me. I’ll handle it.”

With a sly smile, Julian took the tray as if snatching it away.

Just then, Karel could be seen wandering around on the first floor, looking for him. Just before Karel raised his head, Julian swiftly pushed the door closed and hid inside the room.

“Oh.”

Julian let out a low sigh.

Sure enough, there was a person in the room. Julian put on a forced smile as he looked at the man lying on the bed.

“A patient? Rather than a patient, it seems more like…”

Julian’s eyes, as they met the man’s, revealed suspicion. The man, as if just waking up, looked at Julian with a bewildered expression, his gown almost slipping off his bare body.

“It’s a man.”

Julian approached with a smile, hiding his inner thoughts.

As he set the meal on the side table, the man looked down at the steaming cream soup. Meanwhile, Julian remembered that the man on the bed was the “beggar” from yesterday.

Julian inwardly admired. He hadn’t expected him to look like this after being cleaned up. Dozens of scenarios flashed through Julian’s mind. This beauty was running away in rags. He couldn’t even begin to guess what the story was behind it.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“…?”

The man seemed like he wanted to say something more, but soon closed his mouth.

“You have a high fever. Rest well.”

Julian knew that his smile could disarm people. Seeing the man’s pupils gradually relax from fear, Julian smiled kindly and left the room.

As Julian descended the stairs from the first floor, Karel quickly approached.

“Where did you suddenly disappear to?”

“Oh, I went to get my gloves from the room…”

“You were in a hurry.”

With Julian pretending not to hear Karel’s complaints, they left the inn.

“I’m the one who wants to ask questions.”

Julian secretly fretted about his brother bringing a young man into the room. He knew that there were people with such hobbies in the world, but it was irrelevant to Julian, and he had never tried to understand such people before.

What could be going through his brother’s mind?

Julian, who felt awkward about his brother bringing the young man, and Karel, who didn’t want to expose him, both kept silent about the man. Their minds seemed elsewhere, and the conversation remained vacant throughout.

Thus, the two of them wandered the rain-soaked streets together, finishing their meal at a suitable place.

“Karel, are you okay?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Your mind seems to be elsewhere.”

“Hmm…”

“You have the expression like you left something behind.”

“It’s not like that. I’m just… tired.”

Julian brushed the rim of his teacup as he looked at Karel, who didn’t respond to his casual hint. Tired? Julian didn’t like the excuse his brother came up with, especially considering that they hadn’t shown any signs of exhaustion throughout the three weeks of their journey.

Feeling like teasing him for some reason, Julian glanced at Karel.

“Well, have we been on a rough journey? Since the weather is cold, how about we head down to the Mediterranean by now?”

“The Mediterranean? That’s a good idea.”

“Isn’t it? I’ll check if there’s a train tonight.”

“What?”

Karel suddenly lifted his head. Julian, acting as if he was curious, asked Karel:

“Why, didn’t you want to go? The sooner, the better, right? Let’s pack as soon as we get back. We’ll have dinner near the station and take the night train. We’ll even watch the sunrise from the train tomorrow morning… How about that?”

Without waiting for Karel’s response, Julian continued, “You’re the one who’s been insisting on heading south before the cold sets in, right? When I suggested going to St. Petersburg, you nearly throttled me.”

But today, Karel’s attitude suddenly changed!

“Is it just because of one man hidden in the room?”

Julian took a sip of his tea, pretending to be calm, but his curiosity was raging inside. It was clear that Karel, who had been silent for a while, was desperately trying to find an excuse for their stay.

Julian couldn’t help but suppress a laugh and hid his face beneath the teacup. Oh, no! He shouldn’t have laughed. Karel’s bewildered expression was amusing.

Now, what should he say in response?

Julian hoped that Karel would suggest postponing the plans. Then he could inquire why, and finally, he could bring up the man in the room.

Julian became increasingly curious about what was so appealing about that man. It was understandable, considering Karel had been distant from romantic affairs throughout his teens. Despite many young ladies paying more attention to Karel than to dashing young gentlemen, he remained aloof.

As Julian was lost in thought, Karel hesitantly spoke up.

“It’s too sudden.”

And then he fell silent for a while. Karel’s profile was filled with worry.

The words that eventually came out were far from what Julian had expected.

“Alright. I’ll check the train schedule.”

“…Uh, is it okay if we leave like this?”

Surprisingly, it was Julian who was taken aback by Karel’s words.

“Yeah.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

“No, really? Seriously?”

“Why are you suddenly like this? Anyway, this trip was supposed to be as you wanted. And Father also told me to accompany you well…”

When Karel mentioned their father, Julian waved his hand to stop him.

“He told you to accompany me? So you’re just obediently following me? I didn’t drag you along like a puppet. We came on this trip as brothers.”

Karel didn’t respond, and Julian drank his tea coldly. They shouldn’t have gone in the first place.

Julian suppressed his irritated nerves. He wanted Karel to be a little more assertive. No matter what anyone said, Karel was the only friend and brother who had shared his childhood with him. But Karel had a habit of self-censorship, always standing outside and observing their situation like an impartial observer. It was also Karel’s responsibility to constantly pull Julian, who was immersed in their “brotherly play,” back into reality.

This time too, instead of revealing his inner thoughts to Julian and insisting on their stay, Karel chose to follow Julian’s decision without any military-style arguments.

Every time this happened, Julian couldn’t help but feel lonely.

Julian blurted out suddenly, “Forget about the Mediterranean. It was just a passing thought.”

“Just a passing thought?”

“Yeah.”

Karel, puzzled but readily accepting Julian’s caprice, felt a faint sense of relief on his face.

The two wandered around small shops and markets aimlessly and returned to the inn before sunset. Upon arrival, Karel, feeling uneasy, hurriedly tried to go up to their room.

“Why the rush? Aren’t you going to rest right away?”

“Um… I’m a bit tired. See you tomorrow.”

Watching Karel climb the stairs without hesitation, Julian sighed inwardly.

He’s really leaving without a backward glance. Is he implying I should have dinner alone?

Julian shrugged lightly and sighed. And while Julian dined alone on the ground floor, a servant went up and down the stairs several times. From their meals to their laundered clothes and extra towels, even a tray filled with cookies… Julian had a feeling he knew who it was all for, and he shook his head in disbelief.

“Karel’s gentlemanly consideration towards that man is so typical of him, or should I say, it’s astounding to see him like this for the first time.”

Nevertheless, Julian had no intention of interrupting the brothers’ time, so he suppressed his desire to share a drink and quietly spent the night.

And the next morning, it was not Julian’s deliberate consideration but rather unexpected circumstances that continued.

Instead of knocking on Karel’s door as usual, Julian lay on his bed and listened intently to the sounds coming from the adjacent room. Although it was obvious what had happened in the neighboring room last night, curiosity got the better of him.

However, he heard no expected noises, just silence. Julian decided it would be best to wait until Karel came out of his room himself.

“I hope Karel can enjoy himself a bit more.”

As Julian was flipping through train schedules alone in his room, suddenly his appetite disappeared, and he folded the map with a sigh.

“I never dreamed I’d have to think about and consider my brother’s nighttime affairs.”

Julian, feeling strangely dejected, lay on his bed and absentmindedly traced the intricate patterns on the ceiling with his eyes.

Thud.

He heard the quiet sound of the adjacent door opening.

It was such a faint sound that he wouldn’t usually hear it, but Julian, who was focused on the neighboring room, could clearly hear it.

Then he heard the sound of footsteps, muffled but distinct, passing by his door. Julian got up and flung the door open.

Sure enough, it was the man from yesterday, passing through the corridor. Julian stopped him.

“Where are you going?”

The man closed his mouth and stared at Julian. Then he bowed his head in acknowledgment and tried to leave again. Julian hurriedly took a few steps forward and stood in front of him.

“Um… Can’t you understand me?”

The man stared at Julian, then his eyes widened slightly. Indeed, just beyond was the Russian border.

“You came from Russia.”

“Do you know our language?”

As the man’s eyes shifted from caution to friendliness, Julian smiled warmly. From his expression, it seemed like he had struggled in a foreign land where he couldn’t communicate for a long time.

Well, the next part should be easy.

With a few words, Julian managed to coax the man into following him to his room. In no time, the man, now looking bewildered, found himself sitting on a cozy single sofa with a steaming hot chocolate in his hand. He seemed bewildered by how things had turned out.

“I appreciate your kindness, but…”

“If you’re thankful, just try it first. This chocolate hasn’t been officially imported to Vien yet. After I fell in love with it once, I even brought it along on my travels. Quickly, have a sip. It’s amazing.”

“But…”

Before the man could say more, Julian lifted the cup to his face. Whether he couldn’t refuse when pushed or not, the man obediently took a sip of the chocolate.

“How is it? Delicious, right?”

At Julian’s words, the man nodded hesitantly. Even though he didn’t say it, his expression showed that he found the chocolate both sweet and bitter. Perhaps thinking he couldn’t refuse Julian’s persistence, he held the cup of hot chocolate quietly with both hands, without saying he would leave anymore.

Satisfied with his attitude, Julian spoke again.

“This chocolate is so delicious, but that guy Karel always nags me about bringing unnecessary things on our travels… Oh, you know who Karel is, right? He’s my brother who was with me last night. Did you say goodbye to Karel?”

“…”

The man didn’t offer any excuses and cast his eyes downward. He hadn’t said goodbye.

Or maybe they had the kind of relationship where you didn’t need to say goodbye before leaving… Julian couldn’t shake off the suspicion of the man’s identity as a “guy”.

“Are you traveling too?”

At Julian’s question, the man shook his head.

“No.”

“Then why?”

When Julian asked why he was wandering around like that, the man seemed tongue-tied and just looked around.

“I… I…”

Julian waited patiently for a while, but the man remained silent.

“If you can’t explain, are you wanted by the police?”

Sometimes there were fugitives who framed someone and disguised themselves as criminals to evade arrest. You couldn’t treat people like objects, but if the man in front of him was indeed a fugitive, he was too valuable to let go.

Thinking so inwardly, Julian continued speaking.

“Oh, you don’t have to talk if it’s uncomfortable. I just said it because you looked troubled. Anyway, if you leave here, where are you planning to go?”

“I’m planning to go to Paris.”

“To Paris?”

“Yes, I think there might be a job opportunity for me in Paris.”

Julian still thought with a smile. How did the man, who until yesterday looked like a beggar and homeless, manage to get the fare to Paris? The answer was simple. He must have received financial assistance from Karel.

Julian scrutinized the man for a moment. The initial dirty and shabby appearance had disappeared completely after he washed and changed into clean clothes. However, his clothes were outdated, and judging by his inability to speak a foreign language in this day and age, he was likely an uneducated peasant from rural Russia.

Julian became more curious about the man’s identity.

That’s why he suddenly made the proposal to the man.

“Will you accompany me?”

“Huh?”

“We’re going up to St. Petersburg and then to France. Specifically, we’re going to a villa in Côte d’Azur in southern France. We’ll stop by Paris on the way. How about traveling together just until there?”

“No, no… Thank you for your kindness. But…”

“I’ll cover the expenses, of course. There’s no reason to refuse, right?”

“…I’m sorry.”

The man hesitated. But seeing him hesitating even after repeatedly refusing, it seemed like he had some lingering attachment.

“Are you worried about crossing the Russian border again?”

“…”

“Did you flee from your homeland?”