Prince Charming's Red Carpet Cloak

Suhyeon stared in bewilderment at the coordinator named Myeong-suk standing before him. She was on the shorter side among women, her eyes sparkling with eager anticipation as she held an oddly shaped garment in both hands.

This looks just like the cape or robe the Dracula count wears when he appears in movies... What the hell do you even call this thing?

Suhyeon addressed the coordinator.

"Don't male actors usually go with tuxedos and bow ties? Isn't what I'm wearing now good enough?"

No sooner had Suhyeon finished speaking than the coordinator replied in a heated rush, her eyes blazing like molten lava.

"That'd be true for your average male actor. But you're not your average male actor, Suhyeon. You have to drape this on to fulfill the fantasies of every woman gazing at you."

"...Fantasies?"

"Yes. Fantasies."

"What kind?"

The coordinator clenched her fists tightly.

"The prince! The fairy-tale prince that every woman has dreamed of since childhood and wants to meet at least once before she dies."

Suhyeon was so flabbergasted he was momentarily speechless.

"By any chance... do you think that when you look at me, Myeong-suk?"

"Of course! You think it's just me? Every woman ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the world looking at your handsome face feels the same. A prince like that can't just dress like an ordinary commoner. He needs to stand out, so everyone knows at a glance he's a prince."

Suhyeon let out a long sigh as he watched her thrust the garment forward, urging him to try it on.

"Haa. Alright, fine. I'll at least try it on."

Suhyeon took the garment from the eager coordinator's hands and spread it out, examining it closely. The outer side was pitch black, like the darkest night sky, while the inner lining, visible when spread, was a vivid crimson, like the blood dripping from a wounded dove.

He ran his hand carefully over the fabric. The black exterior felt like velvet, soft with fine fuzz, and the red interior slid smoothly like silk against his fingertips.

To try it on, Suhyeon gripped the shoulders and lifted it up.

"Huh? It's way shorter than it looked from a distance."

In response to his question, the coordinator replied in a voice laced with poignant sorrow, her eyes icy cold.

"Exactly. It's perfect for those dwarf-like folks bickering over 170cm, but for a tall, stately guy like you, Suhyeon, it's much too short."

Does this woman date short guys? Why's she saying it with such a world-weary tone...

Suhyeon slipped the garment on. The collar was densely ruffled like frills, and the hem below flared out in wide shirring. The length varied front to back—the back barely reached his waist, while the front just covered his shoulders. Tiny hook-and-eye clasps in the shape of hooks adorned the neckline for fastening.

Suhyeon turned to the mirror, fastened the hooks, and tested his arm movements.

No sleeves like a windbreaker, so it's easy to move in.

At that moment, he caught sight in the mirror of two women hopping up and down, high-fiving each other.

- Kyaaak! Kyaaak!

- Total prince. Prince!

- Like the head of the Andrey family.

- William Albert! Kyaaak!

What the hell are they even talking about... Sigh.

"What's this called? It's not quite a cape or a poncho..."

In response, the coordinator cupped her cheeks with both hands, twisting her body as she answered.

"There's no special name for that exact style, but if I had to call it... Trench cape short coat? Something like that. Suhyeon... haa. You're too cool."

"Right? The more I look, the more I'm sucked in. Who cares about the name. Oh my, Myeong-suk. This isn't the time. Quick, photos. Videos."

Growing slightly weary of the two women fussing over photos and videos, Suhyeon asked, desperate to escape the scene.

"So, we're done now, right?"

A fair amount of time later, Suhyeon climbed into the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠van where his manager was waiting.

"Come on in. Good work. Took longer than expected to get dressed."

"Haa. It wasn't just dressing—it took forever practicing the act."

"Act? What act for a film festival?"

At his manager's question, Suhyeon recalled the earlier scene.

"So, we're done now, right?"

"No way. Now we practice the scripted scene."

"...Scripted acting?"

"Yep. Kim Hae-su and I whipped up a simple one. Hold on."

The coordinator pulled a memo from her pocket and began reading.

After hearing the full script, Suhyeon stood blankly for a moment before snapping to and speaking urgently.

"Didn't Hae-su say she'd wear a crimson open-shoulder dress? Draping this over it would cover her shoulders and back—might actually make it worse. And from the front, the red lining shows okay, but from behind it's black, so the outfit looks super unbalanced. Better not to put it on her at all."

The coordinator snorted dismissively, as if he'd spouted nonsense.

"The weather's getting chilly anyway, so a guy taking off his jacket for a girl is totally natural. And at the photo zone, you take it off again anyway—no issue. Balance? Not important at all."

"Then what's important?"

"A woman's fantasy!"

"...Another fantasy?"

"Of course."

"Hoo. What's this one?"

"The fantasy of my tall, handsome, cool boyfriend taking off his jacket and putting it on me!"

"...Women have that fantasy too?"

At that point, Kim Team Leader chimed in.

"Absolutely. The prerequisite is that the guy taking it off has to be handsome and cool by any standard... but yeah, women love that. And in those cases, outfit balance is never an issue. In fact, if it's baggy and oversized, hanging weirdly long—that's even cooler. Right, Myeong-suk?"

"Exactly. Suhyeon, if it goes off perfectly, the other actresses at the festival will turn green with envy. So, Suhyeon... haak. Practice on me."

"Pardon? What?"

A short while later, having emptied his mind, Suhyeon began the acting practice as Myeong-suk directed.

"Okay... Suhyeon, cape off and in hand... behind me... yes. Now reach around... Kyaaak! Oh no, what do I do. Oh my, your hand... now fasten the hook... haak. Suhyeon's hand on my chest... Kyaaak! Unnie, what do I do..."

"What do you do, you idiot? Shut up and get out. My turn now..."

Soon after, with the cape back in hand, Kim Team Leader said to Suhyeon.

"Suhyeon, that shorty Myeong-suk isn't right for Hae-su's role. I'm much taller... so practice with me once more."

With eyes full of resignation, Suhyeon replied in a dry voice.

"Sure. Whatever you want."

"Right... haa... slowly! Very slowly... now arm out... Oh my... now the hook... haak..."

Suhyeon shook his head roughly, ending the recollection, and answered.

"Hyung, just some stuff like that. I'll fill you in when we get to Busan."

"Got it? We're heading out now. It's at least four hours—grab some sleep."

"If I sleep on the way, it'll mess up my hair."

"There's a neck pillow there. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Use that."

Time passed, and the film festival arrival time approached. After a quick hair and makeup touch-up at a pre-arranged spot in Busan courtesy of YK, Suhyeon checked his outfit and said to his manager.

"Hyung, think it's time to go. Sorted things with Hae-su noona?"

"Yeah. They'll have a guide at the festival to send cars in order. Just follow that."

"Cool. Let's roll."

Soon, the Busan International Film Festival opening ceremony began. Famous actors arrived one after another, stepping onto the red carpet amid cheers from crowds lining both sides.

Suhyeon's turn came. He carefully stepped out of the van stopped at the red carpet entrance. As he appeared, reflecting his skyrocketing popularity, women's screams and camera flashes erupted everywhere.

- Kyaaaak! Suhyeon! Suhyeon!

- So cool! Oppa, look here!

- That outfit is insane. Prince! Prince!

- Looks so noble and classy. Oppa!

- Oppa! Take me! Please!

- Shut up! Suhyeon oppa, take me instead!

Suhyeon flashed a bright smile, waving to the crowd and reporters. Moments later, the van carrying Kim Hae-su arrived.

Suhyeon approached and opened the door. Kim Hae-su sat demurely inside, wearing a crimson open-shoulder dress.

Suhyeon extended his hand carefully. Kim Hae-su took it and stepped out.

Stepping down, she waved brightly with a smile. In her blood-red dress, she looked intensely like a blazing flame.

- Unnie! That dress is gorgeous!

- Unnie! Unnie! Love you!

- Hae-su unnie rocks! Rocks!

- Classic Kim Hae-su! Unnie, over here!

As Kim Hae-su waved amid the cheers, Suhyeon—as planned—brought his mouth close to her ear. She tilted her head slightly, as if listening.

Suhyeon whispered.

"Noona, ready to start?"

To outsiders unaware of the setup, it looked like she'd heard something unexpected. Kim Hae-su jerked her head up in mock surprise, eyes wide, and whispered back softly.

"Hurry. We're late."

With quick hands, Suhyeon removed his cape. Onlookers murmured curiously at the scene.

"Noona, turn this way."

Whispering as he held the cape in both hands, Kim Hae-su replied lowly and fast.

"Hey, this is the reporters' side. You go behind me."

Suhyeon swiftly circled behind her. He draped the cape over her shoulders, then reached forward around her neck. To fasten the hook, he lightly hooked his arms over her collarbones.

Kim Hae-su placed a hand on her chest, smiling shyly as if embarrassed.

Suhyeon smoothly fastened the hook.

At that instant, the crowd erupted in frenzied screams.

- Kyaaaa~ak! So cool!

- Oppa! Kyaaak! Me too! Me too!

- Heart pounding. Do it to me too.

- Love you both! Oppa! Unnie!

- Haa. Makes boyfriends look pathetic.

- So sexy! Suhyeon oppa!

Amid the women's breathless shrieks, Kim Hae-su gripped Suhyeon's arm tightly after the hook was fastened. She lifted her chin haughtily.

Then, with the air of owning the world—like Cleopatra with Julius Caesar in her grasp—Kim Hae-su strode confidently down the red carpet, Suhyeon carefully matching her pace.

Photographers' flashes exploded like fireworks.

That night, the news story on the Busan International Film Festival with the most views had this headline: