TKEP 05

Chapter 05

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Indeed, things went exactly as Yeon had said they would.

Seo-jun didn’t ignore her.

He didn’t come running out barefoot or anything, but he did greet her with a faintly surprised expression.

Yeon asked to speak with him alone.

While the members of his office, along with the aides, rolled their eyes around and whispered speculations about the two of them, Seo-jun opened the door to his office.

“Come in.”

Seo-jun, who had regained his composure, spoke.

His low, deep voice was both familiar and yet somehow different from what Yeon remembered.

It made sense—this was the first time in twelve years she had heard his voice.

Yeon looked at him with fresh eyes.

Had he gotten taller?

He had already been tall back then, but now he seemed almost towering.

“What would you like to drink?”

Seo-jun asked from the small snack bar set up in one corner of his office.

“Anything is fine.”

“I was just about to have some coffee. If you’re okay with caffeine, I’ll make you the same.”

“Sounds good.”

He turned on the electric grinder and heated the water.

Yeon quietly watched as he brewed the coffee by hand.

She had thought he’d just hand her a simple capsule coffee, but from grinding the beans to the brewing motions, he was unexpectedly meticulous.

Before long, the office was filled with the rich aroma of coffee.

“Thank you for waiting,” Seo-jun said, handing her a coffee cup.

Yeon’s gaze lingered on the smooth hand holding the mug before she slowly looked up.

He was close—right in front of her.

Her future husband.

Kang Seo-jun, the so-called royal sniper, and the political maverick of the business and political world.

Yeon studied him closely.

Smooth skin, a sharply defined nose, eyes so piercing and clear they seemed to see right through a person, and lips the color of ripe cherries.

A face one could never forget after seeing it once.

So that’s why I’ve remembered him for twelve years.

Twelve years ago, he had already been stunningly handsome—enough to make young Yeon’s heart race.

Now, with maturity added to his looks, he exuded a refined elegance.

“I’m not sure if it will suit your taste. Coffee can be pretty subjective.”

They say good-looking people also have attractive voices, and it was true—his low, rich baritone was captivating.

“Just making time for me is enough to be thankful for, especially since I dropped by unannounced. I’ll enjoy the coffee.”

Seo-jun’s eyebrow twitched slightly as he watched her take a sip.

“It’s good,” she murmured innocently.

The childlike tone brought back a vivid memory of her younger self, and it startled him.

He quickly looked away, realizing he’d been staring without thinking.

“You must be busy.”

“The National Assembly audit season is coming up, so yes, a bit.”

“That must be exhausting.”

“It’s not. It suits me.”

“You mean going after the royal family? You never miss your target. I saw your performance during the audit.”

Seo-jun’s brow furrowed.

Back then, she had easily called him “oppa,” but now she addressed him as “Assemblyman,” as though erasing their connection from twelve years ago.

Drawing a line with her words, yet still watching his political activities—that was inconsistent.

“You watched me?”

“Yes. Live, in real time.”

His eyes narrowed.

Why would she watch him, all the way from a foreign country, as he criticized the royal family?

Before he could ask, Yeon spoke again.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

Curious about why she had suddenly shown up, Seo-jun uncrossed his legs and set his cup down.

A wisp of steam curled up from the coffee.

“Did you see the press conference?”

“If you mean when Your Highness returned to the country, yes.”

It had been impossible to miss—the entire empire had been in an uproar.

And once he heard about her, there was no way he could resist looking it up.

It had been that way since twelve years ago.

From the day they met because of Ji-young, any news of Yeon had drawn all his attention.

“Good. That’ll make this easier. Assemblyman Kang Seo-jun.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The stiff title still grated on him, but he replied without showing it.

“I’m going to get married.”

His eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.

“Congratulations…?”

He wasn’t sure how to react, so the words came out awkwardly.

“It’s not something I should celebrate alone. How about we celebrate together?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m asking you to marry me, Assemblyman Kang Seo-jun.”

One eyebrow rose slightly.

Outwardly, he seemed calm, but inside he was reeling.

He stared at the princess who had shown up out of nowhere with a sudden proposal.

Only now did he really see her.

She was far more beautiful than in photographs.

Her double-eyelid-less eyes were large, their slightly upturned corners giving her a cool gaze.

The tip of her nose was delicately shaped like a traditional “beoseon” sock curve, and her lips brought to mind a perfectly ripe apple.

Overall, she had the striking features of a Western beauty, but her dark eyes, silky black hair, translucent skin, and delicate lines held an undeniable Korean grace.

The popular description—that she was “a perfect blend of classical and modern beauty”—was instantly convincing.

From her elegant air, Seo-jun recalled the younger version of her.

Fourteen-year-old Yeon.

That was when they had first met, twelve years ago—she fourteen, he twenty.

Which was why he had been so unsettled seeing her today.

He had seen her grown-up appearance in photos and videos many times, but meeting her in person as a full-fledged adult was… strange.

It was like a kitten he’d once doted on showing up one day fully grown into a cat.

Somehow, it was hard to truly register that she was now an adult.

And now—a proposal?

The whole thing felt foreign and bewildering.

Her appearance after all those years, and the way she made him waver.

“Showing up out of the blue and saying that… it’s a bit much. If it’s a joke, please take it back.”

“It’s not a joke.”

Her smile vanished completely.

“I’ll help you achieve your goal. Your goal is to abolish royal privileges, isn’t it?”

Seo-jun took a deep breath.

She was half right, half wrong. Abolishing royal privileges was one of his goals, yes.

But his ultimate goal was something else.

“I doubt you’d make such an offer just to sacrifice yourself for me. Let’s say I get something out of this—what do you get, Your Highness?”

“You know how it is. The Imperial Family still acts like it’s the Joseon era. By their standards, I’m an old maid. Wow, that’s such an outdated term, isn’t it?”

She shook her head, clearly annoyed with her own words.

Her black hair shimmered, carrying a faint scent of sweet-olive blossoms—an addictive fragrance.

“I want to escape the nagging of the elders trying to stick the ‘old maid’ label on me.”

“That’s your reason? Then it doesn’t have to be me.”

He was proving difficult, as expected.

Yeon exhaled slowly and idly played with the warm cup in her hands.

“You know the true nature of the Imperial Family. That means you’ll be cautious, you won’t get hurt. You might even protect me.”

Her words were calm, but in his ears they carried a faint tremor born of fear.

And that tremor overlapped with the quivering voice of the fourteen-year-old Yeon in his memory.

“It’ll help you continue your political career too,” she added.

Taking his silence as reluctance, Yeon pressed on.

“As a rule, members of the Imperial Family can’t engage in politics. You’d have to give up your Assembly seat.”

“Life is long. You should take the long view. You can step down now and run again in the next election.”

Seo-jun saw through her underlying intention immediately.

“So you mean—get married first, then divorce later.”

Yeon nodded.

He was, indeed, a smart man.

“This deal would never hurt you. Divorce isn’t even considered a scandal these days.”

“But not for you, Your Highness. Divorce is still taboo in the Imperial Family, isn’t it? Not in the law, but socially.”

“I’m planning to break that taboo.”

She was hiding something.

Seo-jun knew it was time to decide—dig deeper, or stop here.

He chose the former.

“Be honest, Your Highness. What exactly do you want from me?”

She had known he wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t expected him to pry so insistently right from the start. After a brief hesitation, she spoke.

“The Crown Prince.”

He tilted his head.

“I need someone who won’t be swayed by His Highness the Crown Prince. Out of everyone I know, you’re the only one. You always have been, and I think you still are.”

Yeon recalled a photo of Seo-jun blatantly ignoring the Crown Prince.

“And one more thing. I need a husband who will recognize me as an independent person after marriage. Whatever I do, you don’t interfere, and I won’t interfere in your matters. Most importantly, you must never side with the Crown Prince.”

Only Seo-jun could give her that.

The Crown Prince of the Korean Empire—future Emperor—was a dangerously persuasive figure.

“Is that all?”

Seo-jun’s hand twitched.

She was trying to hide it, but she was trembling like a puppy before a predator. He wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her.

Even though the class system was gone, the royals still sat at the top of society.

And here was a royal, shaking like someone caught in the rain.

Looking at him with eyes that pleaded desperately.

How could he not waver?

Above all, the two of them…

Seo-jun shoved aside a memory that threatened to surface.

“Your Highness, why not just say you want me to protect you? Ask for my help outright.”

He rested his arms on the table.

As his upper body leaned forward, Yeon’s pupils trembled slightly.

“Then will you marry me?” she asked, lifting her gaze.

 

Clear, transparent eyes—just like the Yeon he remembered—were looking right at him.