TKEP 08

Chapter 08

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“How… how could you do this, Your Highness? You already have someone you’re seeing, yet you came to this arranged meeting?”

The man sitting across from her pointed at the ring box. His fingertips were shaking violently.

“This is an insult to me and my family’s company. Apologize!”

At his bold demand, Yeon rubbed her forehead.

He wasn’t entirely wrong.
But this wasn’t something she needed to apologize for.

It was Crown Prince Byeong who had arranged this meeting without her consent,
so if anyone should apologize, it should be him.

Still, Yeon didn’t want to make a big scene.
But she also didn’t feel like apologizing… so what now?

While she was still thinking, Seo-jun opened his mouth.

“You’re the one who should be apologizing.”

He placed his phone on the table.

Naturally, all three sets of eyes turned toward the small screen.

A video was playing.

In it, the man from the meeting was clearly visible—
leaning his big belly toward some woman and making her uncomfortable.

“Harassing your secretary,” Seo-jun explained.

He swiped the screen.

Next appeared a screenshot of a bank account.

“Money laundering.”

Another swipe—this time, documents appeared.
They were complicated to read, so Seo-jun kindly explained.

“And military supply corruption. Playing around with soldiers’ food is low.
Passing off Chinese products as local-made… you really crossed the line.
Do you want to keep watching?”

“Wh-what is this?”

“Proof you can never become my father-in-law,” Seo-jun said coldly.
“You dare to come meet Her Highness with a life this filthy?”

“I-I didn’t do it! This is a misunderstanding—”

“Then explain it during the investigation. Or… should I give you a friendly ‘pre-interview’ first?”

Seo-jun smirked.

The man knew about Seo-jun’s history as a police officer—
through a friend who had once been completely ruined by him.
The memory made his spine go cold.

“F-fine. Let’s pretend today never happened.”

“And the apology?” Seo-jun pointed at Yeon.

The look in his eyes was fierce, like he’d grab the man by the collar if he didn’t apologize right away.

The man hesitated, then quickly bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Seo-jun glanced at Yeon, as if to say Your turn to finish this.

Yeon didn’t mind—it was exactly what she wanted.

“Let’s just agree the meeting didn’t work out. And let’s not bring it up again, now or in the future.”

The man clearly understood she meant for him to report this politely to the Crown Prince.

“Yes, I’ll tell His Highness that we just weren’t compatible.”

“Good answer.”

It was obvious from the short conversation that they had completely different values.
Marrying a man like this? She’d rather jump into a burning fire.

“Then…”

The man seemed ready to leave, but kept glancing at Seo-jun.

“Do you have something else to say?”

“Th-those photos and videos…”

He couldn’t bring himself to actually say “delete them,” and just kept sweating.

“You mean your corruption evidence? Your choice—
Do you want it quietly investigated and only the bare minimum leaked to the press in a week,
or do you want it on the front page right now?”

Clearly, Seo-jun wasn’t planning to let him off.

The man studied his face for a long moment, trying to decide if he was serious.
Then he bowed his head.

“I’ll take the investigation.”

“I thought so. Prosecutor Kim is waiting in the underground parking lot.”

The man’s jaw dropped.

Even Yeon’s eyes widened.
How far ahead had Seo-jun planned this?

“Go on,” Seo-jun said firmly.

Like a defeated soldier, the man slumped his shoulders and dragged his feet out.

Once he was gone, Seo-jun stood up.

“Where are you going?” Yeon asked.

“We’re finally alone. I’m moving over there.”

He pointed to the seat across from her, pulled out the man’s chair, and sat down.

Yeon glanced at the empty space beside her, then looked at him.

“What’s this?” she asked, nudging the box in front of her.

It slid easily across the table.

“Is it empty?”

“That’s what you’re most curious about?”

It wasn’t really curiosity—it was just ridiculous.

He’d shown up without warning, acted like her boyfriend, and now… an empty box?
If this was the plan, a heads-up would’ve been nice.

“That’s not it,” Seo-jun said.

Still, she was grateful he had gotten rid of her meeting partner, so she bit back any complaint.

“Then listen to me first.”

Seo-jun rested his arms on the table.
Yeon’s ears perked up—she was very curious what he would say.

She felt a little excitement.

Earlier the mood was good… even if he was a bit cheesy.
Maybe he had come to give a good answer to her proposal.

But instead, he said:

“You told me to take my time, then you go on a blind date?”

Her smile vanished instantly.

The memory of the last three days—dealing with Byeong’s harassment while waiting for him—rose in her chest like a heavy lump.

“I couldn’t just wait forever,” she said.

“You told me I was the only one, but was that a lie? You’d marry anyone?”

Her eyes trembled.

She’d meant every word she’d told him.
And now he was twisting it—she hated that.

“Are you angry? What did I do wrong? I only asked for time—I never said how long. Should I just sit around waiting?”

She knew it wasn’t exactly fair to be mad at him, but her words kept pouring out.

“And why is this such a big deal? I told you marriage was urgent.
Of course I might go on blind dates! Why are you acting like this? Don’t tell me… you’re jealous?”

The more she spoke, the faster she went, until she was breathless.

She grabbed her iced Americano and gulped it down.

“Yes. I’m jealous.”

“Pfft—”

She almost choked to death right then and there.
If people died from iced coffee, she’d be in the Guinness World Records.

She coughed violently, covering her mouth.

Her attendant, Silan, started toward her, but Yeon shook her head.

Seo-jun handed her a handkerchief.

Finally able to breathe, she took it and wiped her mouth and eyes.

Her face was burning—whether from coughing or from him, she couldn’t tell.

“Better?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Then I’ll keep going. I’ll admit it—when I saw your text, I got angry.
I didn’t like the idea of you going on a blind date.
There are many reasons, but if I have to choose one… it’s jealousy.”

His straightforward confession made her feel oddly embarrassed.

“You could’ve just told me not to go.”

“And if I had, would you have stayed home? No—you didn’t want to go in the first place.”

Her eyes shook.

She hadn’t told him the details, yet he knew.
He knew she’d been forced to come, and that it had hurt her.

“Then you should’ve come sooner. At least called me.”

His voice softened.

Seo-jun realized he’d been too emotional.

“I couldn’t show up empty-handed. I needed to prepare.”

“You mean the video and photos from earlier?”

He nodded and explained.

When he got her text, he was in a morning meeting for a government audit.

He immediately stopped the meeting and shut himself in his office,
ordering his informants to dig up everything on her blind date partner.

Normally it took a day to get basic dirt on someone—
but finding deep weaknesses took at least a week.

He’d done it in four hours thanks to his skills and contacts…
and because the man was already a walking disaster.

“I didn’t even have time to send a text,” he said.

Yeon could believe it—he must have been incredibly busy.

“Finding that evidence was lucky. But tell me, Kang Seo-jun—
If you hadn’t found anything, were you not going to come?”

 

Her question caught him completely off guard.