🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 26
Looking toward the sunlit window, Yeon-seo noticed there were no curtains. This house really did look like his temporary residence.
A place devoid of warmth or even personal taste.
“So this is where he’s been staying all along.”
She wondered if he even took proper care of himself, being so deeply immersed in becoming the head of Seoguk.
Yeon-seo walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge. As expected, it was completely empty—so empty that even having it plugged in felt meaningless.
She decided to make food for him. She reached for her bag to go to the supermarket, but it was nowhere to be found inside the house.
While looking around, her eyes fell on a room she hadn’t entered yet.
“Could this be the dressing room?”
Yeon-seo cautiously opened the door, careful not to wake him.
The room seemed closer to Do-heon’s office than a dressing room. Stacks of documents, books, and a computer filled the space.
Curious, Yeon-seo examined the room slowly. In one corner was a photo of an unfamiliar woman.
She bore quite a resemblance to Do-heon.
“That must be his late mother.”
The woman looked like a delicate flower or perhaps a butterfly—both innocent and elegant.
At that moment, a fragment of a memory she had long forgotten resurfaced, as if her headache had vanished.
“Grandma, why are you wearing all black?”
Her grandmother, usually dressed in bright colors, wore black that day, which had puzzled Yeon-seo.
“A very young and beautiful person went to heaven today, leaving behind a son who’s a joy to behold… oh, what to do…”
At that age, she could only think of death abstractly. Still, her grandmother’s eyes looked dark and sorrowful, like a lake on a cloudy day.
It was probably the first time Yeon-seo had ever seen her grandmother cry. The last time she’d seen someone close die was when her father passed.
“Who was it? I want to know! Tell me!”
“A lady who lived at the place where grandma worked. She slipped on the stairs…”
Why had this memory resurfaced now? Yeon-seo covered her open mouth with her hands and blinked rapidly.
“She died.”
“I heard it was a fall. I wasn’t there.”
Do-heon had said the same before.
Yeon-seo concluded that Do-heon’s mother and grandmother had died in the same manner.
Had the photo been placed here instead of at Myeongseonjae because of Geum Seon-ae?
“Ah…!”
She gasped and screamed as she left the room, bumping her face against Do-heon’s chest.
He, who looked angelic while asleep, had returned to his usual stoic expression—like a face that wouldn’t bleed even if pierced.
“Is snooping in other people’s rooms your hobby?”
“I’m sorry… I was looking for my bag and couldn’t find it…”
Yeon-seo bowed her head, feeling as if she’d committed a crime. He looked down at her with an unreadable expression.
“So…”
His questioning continued, as if her answer had been insufficient.
Yeon-seo swallowed nervously, unsure how to begin explaining. He’d likely scold her for doing something she wasn’t asked to.
“Any pain?”
Contrary to her expectations, he was concerned about her health. Surprised, she blinked a few times and hesitated.
“…Other than a slight headache, I’m fine.”
A short sigh escaped between her teeth, as if reflecting his own thoughts.
Do-heon stepped closer, touching her forehead. Yeon-seo felt both her heart race and guilt intertwine.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. I tried to be careful, but given the situation… it was hard to refuse.”
“If anyone touched you, tell me. Even a single hair.”
His eyes glinted with sharp intensity. She feared even a hint of a name would cause trouble.
“Nothing like that happened.”
Yeon-seo gently smiled, holding his wrist against her forehead. But she shivered at the thought of what might have happened if he hadn’t appeared just in time.
At the same time, the memory of Kang-jae sprawled on the floor in a battered state sent chills down her spine.
“…What about your brother-in-law?”
“He’s alive, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Do-heon’s fists clenched slightly. Turning his head and exhaling seemed to cool the rising anger within him.
She wanted to ask about his mother, but feared she might be questioned about why she had entered Myeongseonjae, so she held back.
Grandmother’s death, Geum Seon-ae, Do-heon’s mother’s death—how were they connected, and how could she find out?
Suddenly, her stomach growled.
Startled, Yeon-seo held her empty stomach. She had already done so much wrong; now she was embarrassed again. Her face flushed.
Do-heon chuckled.
“Looks like you’re hungry. You finished a whole bottle of liquor, so we need to eat something to sober up.”
“If you want to eat too… I’d like to cook myself. I’ll go to the supermarket.”
Despite her embarrassment, Yeon-seo stubbornly wanted to cook. She didn’t know when she’d be back at this temporary residence.
She also wanted to give him a proper meal. Perhaps he had never tasted food made by family; she wanted him to eat something she made herself.
“You want to cook yourself?”
Do-heon’s eyes widened slightly. His surprised expression made her smile for some reason.
“Yes, I’ll be right back. Do you know where my bag is?”
“Come with me.”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her close. Her cheek pressed against his broad chest.
Yeon-seo felt confused again.
What was this man’s true intention?
“Since you haven’t entered Myeongseonjae, you could be watched. So stick close. And cook together.”
His explanation seemed to clarify everything.
The difference now was that she was certain of her feelings, no longer shaken by his words.
She used to think love was relative, but she was completely wrong.
It was a lifelong admiration she could never forget. Even if he became a stranger, she would long for him alone—an eternal curse.
Despite the early hour, the supermarket was crowded with shoppers.
Yeon-seo hesitated before leading him inside. She filled the cart with colorful bell peppers, red mesh bags of onions, tofu, and eggs.
Do-heon followed silently.
At the butcher’s counter, a woman in a green headscarf was grilling pork belly. Yeon-seo scooped the freshly grilled meat into a paper soju cup and offered it to him.
He hesitated briefly but followed her lead.
“Are you newlyweds? Your husband is handsome; you must be happy!”
The woman spoke cheerfully as she handed over the meat. Yeon-seo squinted and tried to end the conversation politely.
“And kids? If they take after both of you, they’d be so pretty! My son’s nearly fifty and just plays games at home, never thinking of marriage! How nice it’d be to see such a pretty daughter-in-law!”
The woman’s nosy comments continued. Yeon-seo’s face flushed like henna-dyed nails. Talking about children felt oddly like they were a real couple.
The woman finally left. Yeon-seo stammered, trying to respond.
“Um… is there anything you want to eat?”
Do-heon’s earlobes were also red. He grabbed several pieces of pork belly and placed them in the cart.
“…This is delicious.”
The butcher’s eyes widened at the unexpected sellout.
“If you take too much, you won’t finish it all…”
“I’ll eat it over three meals.”
His flustered demeanor seemed unlike him.
Though tall and robust enough to be a basketball player, he looked adorably embarrassed by the woman’s teasing words.
“The woman’s quite mischievous. I don’t intend to have kids, though.”
Yeon-seo walked ahead, wanting to give him space and show consideration.
“What about you, Yeon-seo? Having my child?”
Her ears nearly betrayed her; had she misheard? Their plans or agreement never mentioned having a child.
Yeon-seo looked back. Do-heon, in a white T-shirt, smiled warmly. His gentler expression felt different.
“…Pardon? What did you say? I didn’t catch it.”
Do-heon grabbed her arm.
“Keep walking forward. You’ll trip otherwise.”
Her body, leaning after bumping into someone ahead, found support.
It was the same cozy, broad embrace as yesterday. Nothing had changed, yet her chest tingled.
“What to do…”
Do-heon murmured softly, holding her. She felt a firm sensation at the front of his pants. Her eyes widened.
“I want to do something before we eat.”
He smiled lazily, holding her hand tightly.
