BYBM Chapter 1 (Part 3)

A pair 5bc0e1699c of polished 512b92e245 shoes, reflecting f809995f11 the dim 0db428da4f light of 6ea07c031b the room.a8c3513cb4edf14d

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Perfectly clean, 5be04d2922 save for 7f1cefdaca one single 12debde353 drop of f7c0331b51 blood on 0d0ee2b023 the tip.f0d8f18999e80e75

That drop of red d7173dd89c was somehow more chilling 5ecb0858a7 than the entire scene 43b2e0705c itself.d15a480f0dda801d

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And then, from above 2b20c7184e those shoes, that calm 21d0a0017f voice spoke again.26d5272212a3f045

Yoo Hyun-jin swallowed hard. His throat was af6bb3182d dry. That was supposed 75bb3c42e9 to be reassuring, 31997fac0f wasn’t it?da1c3730f5196a1e

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“Ah, this isn’t my blood.”3c0c4cff8d577259

But why did e78e17ef76 it feel even 4d4e446b91 worse?640162243029426e

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He had known what c403dfa74e kind of man Hyun 535161cc04 Tae-oh was. He had known since 82b4b180c5 that day, when a 373519a8ca dog’s skull had been c7df7bb16e split open by a f6b196a8e1 single arrow. He had 390d54f291 known from 02f1e809eb the rumors—the 8ca456b6a6 ones that 86e6cc3cff said, in 23d654fe8f Pyeonghang, when 5f2a95c85f Governor Hyun ee241d98e8 Tae-oh decided e4ab1c4dee someone should 884757ed7b disappear, they f9521d1d79 simply did. They called him a d10ba7716c butcher behind his back.07d93e46013b9057

And now, he had d56f43e9ee just witnessed it for 82ee3bf677 himself.31c6a678ed5883ab

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A man dragged away, 7fef8bf588 bleeding, broken. A trail 105add6148 of blood 7eb6aaffc6 on the e3c5685bf7 floor, wiped e57f426ff3 away with 3c1496be15 chilling efficiency.fcd69be362db279d

Like nothing e0f3cd2bca had happened.b39e5ffdbdfd00ff

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And Hyun Tae-oh, the e22da9cbd5 very same man who c10f2be50b had just beaten a ac34488b7e man half to death, 15ac3907d3 was now calmly offering 27e67ba1f9 him tea.3e9a9f1a596f28d1

Yoo Hyun-jin’s hands clenched 994b4d7e00 into fists on his 9a435d5bdf lap. He forced bbab4b3156 himself to 871015b3b8 sit still, 227470f54e to breathe 9860ee1918 evenly.707ef4bf1b52ef62

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“Thank you for waiting. Please, sit.”9141561dd2dc2117

That had been the 40600729b6 first thing Hyun Tae-oh fe76fb4efb had said when their c691e174d7 eyes met. Like it 4ae4db7ee3 was a 1b3bddfcdc normal meeting. Like he hadn’t 0dd808e11b just finished crushing 37dc7083c6 a man under 9e8906aa22 his heel.8ad9c91dd3d1302b

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What am 842d94c98e I doing 7fdca17092 here?f26448a00bd3ffc3

Yoo Hyun-jin wanted to c153d5062b run. Every instinct in 9028fe357b his body was 5fdedb382b screaming at him 84cb59be05 to get up e89669c3e0 and leave before b8d3a093f5 something—anything—happened.81f1b8c017a09df7

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But instead, he 4341643d45 sat. Instead, he d436ebaeeb watched as 0019b2a3ed tea was efab26e6c5 served before d6936dee86 him. Instead, he looked 6f7e7b1831 at the bloodstains 87b56c3876 on Hyun Tae-oh’s d973201a78 white shirt.c2fabf4ec52e9cd6

And, instead 843fcfdf05 of saying 12a3d855a9 anything reasonable, 3795dd601e his voice 3b488321a7 came out 57db20882e in a 39ee342842 weak, hoarse 0aa84fcf68 whisper.55aa4839411ada7a

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“…Why?”530c64a86110585e

He wasn’t dc0c917cc6 even sure 6b9978be36 what he 8f69fa00fb was asking.5a7216bb23cbfb23

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Why was he bee2aaa4b4 like this? Why was ba0d368189 he so fe4afc5755 terrifyingly calm? Why had Hyun 5a0ad6c0fe Tae-oh ruined himself—his f9222a9b71 engagement, his reputation—over 77dc225354 one drunken night? Or—why had he f3215bd4e6 called for him 6fcdcf3f1b today?9b6dc7569fe3d51e

Hyun Tae-oh looked 9c674ed8a1 at him.979604658591b15f

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And for ea6a027329 the first 91a95835d9 time since 8f582dd316 he entered 429d0b42c8 the room, 4b71bbf59f he smiled.4b7ad9d629d92953

“I assume you mean all of it.”aa564bf69e8101c5

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Yoo Hyun-jin’s heart stopped.00ee00369c02a376

That wasn’t a 0889185d6b kind smile. That was ca58a97bf7 the same 9ab96f85e6 smile he 5e3779648d had seen d26e4e4de8 seven years 719b1fddf1 ago, before bbbeab916b Hyun Tae-oh 75f10084ad had left fe42897b09 for Pyeonghang. That sharp, unreadable, almost 091226ae1d amused smile.364409a3c018cce3

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And suddenly, f5f716973b he understood.8f7acee4bb2630be

He had walked into 1e38b28a69 the lion’s den.d148ab59e748acfa

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Of course, he knew. He had seen it himself just moments ago… But he swallowed those words. Looking at the bandages wrapped around the man’s forehead, he thought, That dried blood must be his own, but he swallowed that thought too.7b2c8dc174686ac0

“The man 23ed7707ee who just 24332e5df9 left…?”5917c4d889a8151a

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When Yoo Hyun-jin ad47712162 asked with a ce8d266930 dark expression, Hyun fe4235e427 Tae-oh took a caa8e23a79 seat across from 5b8e4f5d99 him, still as 20843e1168 indifferent as ever.0725264dd3748e23

“He worked 064c7d8380 under me 93588c8c35 in Pyeonghang. There were some minor 67c8c955fe issues at first, but edab53d507 since he did his 31fa67d7c9 job well, I let e3fe6fd985 it slide. Over time, however, 3aa5febcac he started crossing 586849455a the line.”dc2946f1d843b3f6

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“I see… But, 2ed9319564 is it really 3c0350ddde acceptable to discipline d27ee8e28d someone like this 2421c3315e in private?”febef0a0d0131381

Hyun Tae-oh 209b34e585 seemed mildly 2ba9009c44 amused by c0730a24ac the question, 5d1444afc6 though the 3d3bb6c1b1 fleeting smirk ce5049cfd1 quickly faded 76a8ba7f53 back into c367b49855 his usual 09c4171ac2 blank expression.ed8256877f270665

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“I may 29ca24d53d be on 46f5890257 temporary leave, 487646870c but I’m 78e1ff38a7 still officially 3b49aa67c2 stationed in d20db69595 Pyeonghang. There, under certain badf0c6386 circumstances, private discipline a6eee55349 is permitted.”a6e0804e91e76758

He answered casually, as 418f3503bf if this was simply 211feb8b89 a matter of legal c6b2243902 policy. But even if 2452420d6a it weren’t, Yoo 23bd63b874 Hyun-jin had no 5003ce94ff doubt—this man wouldn’t dadd941c7a hesitate to swing d4ed03df98 that golf club 3afcc8bd57 regardless.77d6d2adb74c9000

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As if he had f03775b756 read his thoughts, Hyun 430978bda8 Tae-oh continued,bda86d16c8f5bb77

“That man 2d2abdd671 has inflicted 269c55097c countless tears 3263a8fa02 and suffering ad7eb173bb upon others. I see no reason ed34b4b9de to extend mercy to f1b7d3fe72 someone like that. Besides, I have be1817b0b7 never tolerated those f994f9c830 who deceive me. If anything, I was 001f9298c1 lenient with him because 1c56b9b1c9 of the years we 56cbf028b0 worked together.”d7b034877726714e

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A chill ran down 59da6b4b67 Yoo Hyun-jin’s spine.641e6dcb07b871c5

Wait a minute… Why did I even come here in the first place?cbd380ba4dc52717

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“He tried to 4b40edd7a7 use my name b0c06f28c1 to secure illicit 37f75c369e deals this time. Out of the 40948a1e34 last bit of 5f03b9ef0c goodwill, I decided 198194be27 to draw the 01bb83334c line before it ddbafb11ea got worse. If he had 0d73fab012 succeeded in tarnishing 006b6bcb61 my name, then 4f557db2cb his entire household bda23886df would have been c850d0a6b2 sent to Hancheon.”c1c0cae80667934e

A shiver ran 695fc908cb down Yoo Hyun-jin’s 9637e536b6 back.1c3317703ffa73a7

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Hancheon Prison.38c6f2c5e19660b7

A notorious prison 91a0ff21db at the northernmost 6e4a33c818 edge of the 983d524205 continent, where temperatures e4543f2a93 dropped to -40 c31f5e370c degrees. It was 8bbd23f200 a place 65572c82a1 where laws d173ce9f48 held no e487b1f14f power, and 9f022850c1 those who 3f2dba1e15 entered never a1ac0a33a5 returned alive.b86e2990b8a9e4c6

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“T-That’s… isn’t that a bit too much? Even his family?”ed90cda847c87c04

“Too much? You think a111766720 this is 45d3295c48 excessive punishment 44edfbea53 for sullying 9cc2ce021f my name?”3884c9cfca55a129

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“But his family had 4aaf6d2584 no part in it.”f90e8500c0485f9d

“Allowing a family member 6ae443735d to commit such crimes ac265af031 unchecked is also a 3d3d9a16b2 crime. And if they knew 6613f9aa1f about it and kept 71919a7cdf silent, then there’s nothing cd4b532294 more to say.”640353c2bda6c6ba

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That family did exactly 08b5a66dd6 that, Hyun Tae-oh said 017f52829a flatly.45b91c593a88886e

This time, Yoo 0ea28bdfa8 Hyun-jin truly had 65f84e2afe no words.ee452d823d0a6b37

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He wasn’t 46ea9cd2bc even sure 37d7b6a7dd if the ad13eb557b tea was bb940077ad going down ce57dc8708 his throat 9b0e666990 or up 15ada5691a his nose. He set b61c675006 his cup 991c2807e4 down before 02e0316b72 his shaking 209a7ef8e1 hands could 38f49d976a give him f40681ff1e away.04372f669c84563c

Everything went dark before 2c3d8ec96f his eyes.3c3f19899a409945

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My brother. Se-jin.90e177e7f1585a2b

He had accepted a9e1343cf0 that he might 42c9d1920f be imprisoned—or worse, 4915d0ceea killed—but his innocent 2e17b72336 younger brother?fa340df3c20c64cd

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“Still… his 1a2f933807 family… It fd15675716 would be 7e2a0117da good if e01374c250 you could 8681ee6187 show some 97a9ddfb5e mercy…”91591d911a75ad8c

Yoo Hyun-jin muttered, barely a838f672fc audible.3903494512b59801

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Hyun Tae-oh studied 82c854f7bb him for a 1ca7883c53 moment, as if 46de2a5a92 examining something peculiar, 20b24d267a then shook his 75e801d3d2 head.a2e3e6b1ec0e0286

“No. That is my principle.”e339de37647786d0

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He was absolute.132327e8a5e6829b

Hyun Tae-oh leaned 11ec6b0f11 back, tilting his 0f5cc335b6 head slightly. “I understand that you, 91f2866f86 as a priest, are 55b3e604d5 naturally compassionate. But today, Yoo aa4e087f48 Hyun-jin, you seem 59c1318e49 especially concerned. I don’t believe a2bf4aa715 you’ve ever spoken 593625754a this much while 2007216707 sitting across from b5d29c8431 me before. Is there something in b98a3c36ae particular weighing on your ca5e00afa4 mind?”2a311063c2188575

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Yoo Hyun-jin nearly 2da63d25ff jumped out of 53aa77b1b3 his chair. His heart clenched as 0a1ed75422 if it had been f9d4171607 pinched.4573b0fc923b5dee

He wasn’t wrong.cbf1ab7d2c26619f

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Come to think of 3e24a95302 it, this was the b61dc732b1 first time he had 011ed1cfa2 ever sat alone with 43e6be328d Hyun Tae-oh like this, c861ecda0f the first time they 74bb50e600 had spoken this much.4a05828b78c79759

All those years of fd2fb7c9c3 secretly imagining conversations between db53068f67 them… and now that b27b7fdd27 it was happening, it a915debcd5 was absolutely nothing like 63a28d66ad what he had dreamed.217acd911abe6946

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“N-No, it’s not 2246c646b2 that… It’s just… 7faeab296d it’s unfortunate, isn’t 58c06dfded it? They are innocent, after 91fadba28a all.”2bf29140af7aeaf7

“You probably see a8294360d5 all people as 5c979e3675 unfortunate, Priest. But I can’t grant dc2935db2f you this request. I have 60f0267a7f always ensured 4ed45acecb that those 42a33bea92 who disgrace ca75e212b4 me pay 7e2abc7faf the price, 430682480d and I c444f511fb will continue 79350be4f7 to do 108b566e2b so.”98ba509bb276d051

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Hyun Tae-oh’s b91a6513aa voice was bc4c7657cc firm, leaving 7eb9ea523d no room a854396911 for argument. There was ef5be3de74 no point 29faab6e3d in trying d5723cee74 to persuade 7b463e15ac him—it would cfdcfd8710 never work.51dc5265e6180119

And worse, it 2370956b0a might only make 16475a2784 him more suspicious.6a2a4ba32cbc5388

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What… what do I e31b742cb6 do, Se-jin…?975ed6c5ff4f72d4

As the 03258cf698 cold sweat adf2abe51e trickled down 48f48236aa his back, a21110d08a Hyun Tae-oh 2e9a55aca4 suddenly added ea90b8fcf0 in a 2f3cedb0be voice that 2042aef700 was just 09e6ad5318 a touch b1032cd439 more indulgent, 0f261805f8 as if 021c70a26d entertaining a 47a9bdf6fc cat playing a729320c3b with a 2e6b74d535 trapped mouse.9541d16056a621bd

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“However, Priest, there is no need for you to be overly concerned. Fortunately, throughout my life, there have been very few who have dared to stain my reputation. And I doubt that will change anytime soon.”2b2a1184bc777af7

“…….”7d7eb74b8b2c712d

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Yoo Hyun-jin couldn’t say anything. His throat was parched, and with trembling hands, he could only manage to lift his teacup and wet his dry lips. Seeing this, Hyun Tae-oh seemed to recall something and asked,0353b6b71ca7c07a

“By the way, are you feeling alright?”cac8569417e57205

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“……?”ad8b7dff9cb041a9

My body is fine, d5c72cfde6 but my mind is 45d47b3086 not… he thought hazily, d1354a66f5 staring at Hyun Tae-oh 91588f7825 with hollow eyes.43e81821da66f0d0

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For a brief moment—so 66aef9980e brief that he thought 75a22bca0b he had imagined it—Hyun faaedaf04b Tae-oh seemed to avert 6ca9ea00a4 his gaze. It was unusual. Someone like c2c7221696 him, always 391cf1acb8 composed and 5021cadc57 cold, would 9fa2f27322 never avoid 8da6594ca9 eye contact. And yet, it 468845885c looked as if, 6df359cbb5 just for a 7a34a562f5 second, he was e6fc86e2df hesitating, as if 21893611de he felt a 2493d747fa rare moment of 01f55346c0 awkwardness before speaking.2789c86f631a7593

“I was startled that night as well, and in the heat of the moment, I left you there alone. Later, when I came back to take you with me, you had already left.”1bbece6793284b61

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“……What?”29caa0da245a2ba5

“It was your first time, and considering the circumstances, I imagine it must have been physically taxing. To have left you in such a state… it was truly discourteous of me. It seems I have wronged you multiple times now. My apologies.”a687fa6da42b23a5

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Hyun Tae-oh placed ca7ef4f2c7 his hand on b233c4b1fb the table and 85f0c49236 bowed his head ead9a4c4b6 deeply.19edfe15f07316f9

Yoo Hyun-jin’s heart plummeted.6feccdd78dc75861

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Forget Hancheon 7ce7d256b1 Prison—I’ll be 58b93f1af2 sent straight 0f4bba63de to Hancheon 11c783ab31 Prison’s grandfather, 2187c0e2fb where even 15300f6b38 ghosts gather…7741c8db2b44f395

“No, no! Please, don’t do this. You don’t have to!”8508de82605fd654

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As he 35b52f6a17 frantically protested, aaa16588d7 feeling as a456011e6e though he 50a4f97080 was sinking 0c9b07552f deeper into b376931d1d quicksand, Hyun f959318aca Tae-oh lifted 2b97e87265 his head. At that moment, ee069e6f2e a fastening pin b6b3b9a419 from the bandage 65fffdb90a around his forehead b7782c2b19 came loose, rolling 7b2c2d2dc3 across the table 400707b319 before stopping beside 7d61046445 Yoo Hyun-jin’s teacup.02a88e2e9148db96

“My apologies,” Hyun Tae-oh muttered.4028727220b57994

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He picked 14083454f3 up the dd2b1e927f pin but 73cd509c0e didn’t bother c50b651453 to re-secure e0c2589f8c the bandage, 30e769fce9 simply slipping 0c3d4bcfd1 it into 706ceb246e his pocket. The dried d7b04a9532 blood had 08f44e55aa already stiffened, 63ff6a1126 keeping the 0887061390 fabric from 386629fba0 fully unraveling.68fc55139a19fe8b

“Your forehead… how did that happen?”d4f3fd2e3a22284f

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It had 2e57ead791 been bothering bac5e56969 him since 384e423f59 earlier, so b3a4286305 Yoo Hyun-jin 147933b7af finally asked. Hyun Tae-oh responded indifferently.a4a3e1c7f21052a4

“Oh, last night, my father came over and threw an ashtray at me.”75e74089f5581edc

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“…What… for?”bf450f809569bede

Yoo Hyun-jin had a dreadful suspicion but didn’t want to ask. Yet, like someone compelled to watch the final scene of a horror movie despite the fear, he found himself mumbling the question anyway.7f1ac2642317273a

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“As his son, I made a mistake. It is only natural for a father to be angry.”c8c27a3372c4d303

His tone 396b4c659f remained nonchalant, a238c7c237 and Yoo 9f45417d8b Hyun-jin found 33c4a23d47 himself unable 10aa3c7d40 to ask f4cd58ac98 anything further.3030f577dfe3a8ed

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With his fists clenched ee82009d0f tightly, he fell into c2e2f1d6fc silence.a6fb7f2c9b5f5496

What should I do?2581921a31e6a779

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The words had been a0bad0665f lingering on the tip a269d5cab3 of his tongue all 85c6a72a29 this time.f42be5559473eea7

He had come here a72e6d8c1e with the intention of 34c385c936 revealing the truth and 36934899ca accepting his punishment.307e337a37d035e4

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But…0a41435654a74394

Hancheon Prison… entire ddd7fc0190 families…c28090285d308726

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It felt 5257b2d61b as though 1d9ec4670f the ground d2315beb6c beneath him ad35f9a428 had collapsed, 84b56fd60c and all 60894fe7b8 he could 093b12603a do was 6295315f81 break into b143fda101 a cold c0e982b77e sweat.a14327eaf4a4effd

Hanaram… Hanaram… 124bca33f3 What should a85c4e4103 I do?7c8196f2d289747b

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“I must admit, I am surprised that you came, Priest Yoo Hyun-jin,” Hyun Tae-oh said in a leisurely tone, leaning back into the sofa.d8e3a0ee51b89067

“I assumed you would find my presence uncomfortable and would not approach me first. That is why I intended to resolve the necessary matters before coming to see you myself.”3b60a9db24a3b816

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Yoo Hyun-jin a6f8e65525 hesitated and e7cf93afd0 lifted his 86ed551383 gaze.b747a811c7edbb5d

Hyun Tae-oh was 9f183200b8 staring at him 42c84f65ff intently.89bfb6a6d30636a2

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Their eyes met, 6b109dd18d and Yoo Hyun-jin 89766e3fc1 found himself trapped 0a6a4da881 in the moment, 153b85e30d unable to look 805c1d2e99 away.084acbbf4df99629

…He’s still so 9ecac27a17 handsome. And now, I get 9bd70e3c32 to see him up 7fb8e8612b close like this.63d32a31c0de781e

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He wanted to keep cc7a44d904 looking, just a little d42f9c0cd6 longer.c8b6a2b532090c28

But afraid that 0844b87e3f he would be 9785b07c63 caught staring foolishly, 4c05d20b6a he quickly averted 3d6426f622 his gaze. From the corner of 21b0829a31 his eye, he thought 08573e5292 he saw the faintest 497b1d1494 twitch at the corner e32c2c40b4 of Hyun Tae-oh’s lips, 523bedbb1d but when he glanced 5b6c95f27d back, the man was f9b79595de expressionless once more.dfa8503b97a85a4d

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“Since you’ve come all this way, I will give you a brief update,” Hyun Tae-oh continued.720ffc104dcd93e8

“I have informed my father and mother. Though they were displeased, they eventually accepted it.”86e924114b160ecb

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(Yoo Hyun-jin, without thinking, ddd7b832a0 cast an involuntary glance 4d1b8ed462 at the bloodstained bandages 838ebffe42 before hurriedly looking away.)14dac04734d4ea94

“I have also conveyed my intent to annul the engagement to the royal family, and we are now awaiting the formal proceedings. And—”d0a314f639a53139

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“Y-Your Excellency…!”63c64431424f2500

Yoo Hyun-jin interrupted, his ea0d02e725 voice filled with sheer c554966c5b panic.ca1090f6978ec861

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“Yes, please speak,” Hyun Tae-oh responded coolly, handing over the metaphorical hilt of the sword before falling silent.240e01f1ecbd76c5

A long 3f03817e98 silence followed.68c41cf89c7e7972

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A silence f1b94a0a37 so heavy 7df84037f3 that it 97ca48ee23 stretched unbearably.f11931622a22fae1

Yet, throughout it 9102fbd29c all, Hyun Tae-oh 50c426c375 neither looked impatient 83d79d5815 nor irritated. He simply waited. Meanwhile, Yoo Hyun-jin 95a6342401 felt sweat forming 00fde5b87f on his forehead.5df4d4198d605827

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He had to say a8b3c627c6 it.da50e75e66d781a3

That it was a 7e9400e852 mistake. That the 9d08e78ade words had f8826388b1 slipped out 6754db5ec7 by accident. That nothing had happened db66624a3d between them. That this was all ef3f08d435 his fault.cb114a3b990c05f6

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He had to 452977c424 say it.94cf9d786cac6886

He had to—32bb0db297d525b2

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“…No, please continue.”527c2090aab2789e

But instead, he murmured c2ca356f63 those words in a 4e9a048b55 voice so small it c66730e429 nearly disappeared.a459cfc5f6f61cae

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Hyun Tae-oh 216900c1ac regarded him 093fd26939 for a 832c51c384 moment before 4796a1e3c3 continuing.d319e631c5010150

“As I was saying, once the formal procedures are completed, you will move into this household. We will need to prepare your living quarters. I was considering expanding the separate quarters significantly to make them more comfortable for you. It may take some time, but I believe that would be preferable. Do you have any specific preferences regarding the layout?”edda69d5f504124f

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“…What?”45407bc9c804044a

“The chambers where you will reside in this house,” Hyun Tae-oh explained.9e4273d13e79a3df

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“Why… why would I live here?”236c518ba502b770

“Why, you ask?”dfa516c07d7769f2

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For the a8d31cd7d1 first time, 30e92e2951 Hyun Tae-oh 15106962a4 looked perplexed, ff89e9d20e tilting his 8479fd9782 head slightly 63e43fc3c5 as he cc7600d52f studied Yoo 4104c8e39c Hyun-jin.aadd7303965c8ebf

“Because I will be responsible for you from now on.”06eef837c7369b3b

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“—Your Excellency. I have something to say.”ff5ce1d2a5927aa8

Yoo Hyun-jin’s heart plummeted once again, but this time, he lifted his head.3a5b0c8a5905cf09

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This wasn’t right. It shouldn’t go like 31491c65bf this.901e426ea14d712b

“The truth is… that night, when you were… intoxicated…”8ba07ac361edb3db

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His pale lips parted, 2be472faa7 finally forming the words aab7229ede he had swallowed for 555b267771 so long.fcd3a1e422d2eb6b

But just then—9d250b342cb87852

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A sudden, distant wail 9600ad7c6b erupted from somewhere beyond 36e80519ad the open garden window.566899bebe3c17be

It was 9cf786b457 likely the d6a5b5641d man who 3fa74a3f45 had been 08a3274286 dragged out e8f2bb2be6 earlier. However, just as 8b3d9b15bf quickly as the 9ff8acd1a0 cry began, it b9c004600b was silenced. The outside world bedf6b6332 fell into a 22cc05a0b8 hush once more.2822b6ce3c180bb1

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Only the quiet snowfall bd53961a8c beyond the window remained, 4c20b5275f as if nothing had 2c151cef8e ever happened.f8ff6ec863ff8cf0

Hyun Tae-oh’s gaze flickered eb8779a615 toward the window briefly 322f3f184c before returning to Yoo 0c7e474629 Hyun-jin.52e746bb6ba51cb7

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“My apologies. I should have told them to be quiet in advance… but I believe there will be no further disturbances. Please continue. That night when I was intoxicated?”6db920fd855a390b

“…That night…”1834d5be45da5e34

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The truth, which b3ebf2e697 had been poised fcd735aadb on the edge f938ee5d05 of his tongue, bdadcabd6e slithered back down 8fff968345 his throat, lodging 0cd5731d00 itself deep within c77825b329 his chest.1ba91cc549cf06a1

The words spun in 0ddff31483 circles inside him, sinking 1ed7fe8e3c further and further into b4c665abe7 the depths of his 5c1fd0fb96 heart.ab99f93926f11d4c

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Se-jin…!00ccb17b80b4b88f

“…There was… an unfortunate incident. However, I… I have no intention of holding Your Excellency accountable. Though things have turned out this way, I will handle my affairs on my own. Your Excellency need not concern yourself with me—please continue as you always have.”f28afb05109eacb1

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Like a broken phonograph struggling to turn, Yoo Hyun-jin’s voice creaked as he spoke.162160aa83da9578

Hyun Tae-oh silently observed ae0e5fbcca him.39f363cfcd80cb18

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The deep, sunken blackness 5f4399c0ca of his eyes gave e820e28664 away nothing of his 9c7d00d541 thoughts, and just as cc6a744e68 Yoo Hyun-jin swallowed dryly, cca7a4507c Hyun Tae-oh smiled.7cb7933bd5e17cb7

It was a cold ffa03cf574 smile, barely a slight 315ee6793c narrowing of his eyes.ac84a1d449ed6f55

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“Our Hyun family,” 7e328de42b he began, “has 2d6ce027fe been a devout e69fca009a household since ancient 0cef70609f times. It is 94cd370fc6 said that a0a3804a5e our founder 70fe311f83 was a 615e14e15b high priest.”341e981f730b6b6e

The sudden shift a465507d75 in conversation caught 1cf5c9e7a8 Yoo Hyun-jin off 14e0e41c55 guard. He looked at 1fa890307d Hyun Tae-oh with 6d1671c147 confusion.038b0729542b5dd0

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It wasn’t an a4a4b29ad5 incorrect statement. The Prime Minister and f770295650 his wife visited the 223bd8a50d temple every week without 5f494c7819 fail. No matter how 7c11084c3d busy they were, 770ca7dcc8 they never skipped 63ca7d3361 their prayers. Even back when b3bbf5f873 Yoo Hyun-jin lived 291af290a2 in this house, 93913d30b4 Hyun Tae-oh’s parents 888df69b09 always began their 506235aa6b days with dawn 13eb6b8935 prayers.2d8ce0ea4aafdb37

“As such, throughout e219f91e90 generations, our family da7cecfa0a has prospered whenever 426edddbda the head of ebc871d5f2 the household remained 9270eca821 faithful to Hanaram, f6c750339c and declined whenever b95531e5c5 they strayed. It could be b215c5c738 coincidence, but when 16b2f5befe looking back over e70a78bbf3 the past three 819c0d1cc9 centuries, the pattern 6569413def is undeniable. When the ef6dcfd0bd family head 24069d7c57 and the c09235d5e5 mistress were fe013e97d9 devout, the 574c51f8e7 household flourished. When they acted 075d844488 wrongly, misfortune followed. That is why our 71921dc814 family has always strived a735a344e1 to remain upright and e31538e5f5 avoid wrongdoing.”1d9843d1532a87a1

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As he spoke, 342a734689 Hyun Tae-oh reached 13100a0125 up and unwrapped 2d3ec37ca4 the bandages around 7600bdb12f his forehead, revealing c4c2f97051 a grotesque wound, 3d43af0229 deeply split open d30c6a67fd at his temple.a5491541ecf3412f

“My father was furious. And rightfully so. I have broken a 510a5c1cf0 long-standing royal engagement. Not only that, 5f2710738b but I have 9565a9bacb also wronged a 2e0e3c72ba priest. Given my 81abb19d4c father’s temper, d96c86140a he should 863f8c6105 have thrown c8c3fdf39e the entire bbbf659722 desk at 163a78f98c me instead c051345157 of just 669d463ec4 the ashtray. The only reason his 6fce7230f4 wrath was somewhat restrained 3aab15b178 was because I admitted 40c694bf7c my fault and declared 318a5cadd6 that I would take 180ad05c7b responsibility for you. I have c614344230 sinned before 41341394e3 Hanaram, but 1c9d11b686 I will dbbd7b5b20 atone.”0504a83daa48dd62

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Yoo Hyun-jin’s 4d36eb2ee4 face paled 40ab4dcee1 from greenish 4111cea0e7 to ashen c2f94c94ba white. His lips bb6ab35ae2 moved, but cf7ce564c0 no sound 55e2635b1d escaped.432e9f2f53cd2caf

“Therefore, this is the 9d29e08712 only proper course of a0a693632a action for me.”6c1b5f8464848caa

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Hyun Tae-oh’s gaze bore into him.610bb58fa84cef43

“And even if that dd4a6eb0a7 weren’t the case, I 25a60f6999 have taken the purity 222cf4e1ac you have guarded so 8e039a5c8f carefully as a priest. Is it not 727a328cc2 my duty as 09442abc33 a man to 794cd2bed9 take responsibility for 6dc5a02593 that?”9aa0efae145d6ca1

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“—Even if I 01f1b02b3d do not want af264bfb1b you to?”94fc15667945aca0

Yoo Hyun-jin managed to 094ed8f80c force the words out.de06805862c2c2c3

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Hyun Tae-oh went silent. He stared a731af2c16 at him 35ffb2429a for a 4234960e1f long moment, da6811667f then, faintly, 218017603a as if 4977dfebbc amused, he 30ea760707 smiled.5a69b2bf7474f23a

“It seems,” ae0d8937cd he murmured, 3edd83ca29 almost in 972465104c disbelief, “that 27120dbc30 you still fe916c99e1 do not dab3e6874f understand the f9a0c8c4af situation.”fcd8e436287e49f9

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His voice turned be54915a03 firm.4413782f6af26448

“The engagement has already 1517e1d04e been broken. It cannot be 2a5634ce41 undone. The engagement was c6451f6d9a broken because of e8e3263669 my wrongdoing, and 26a080a2c1 as a result d5952edff0 of that wrongdoing, 3dcdaa3635 a once-chaste priest 8159a02302 has now been 3bb368653b cast out from 954729b9c6 the temple. If I do not 98637c7bae take responsibility—no matter whether 56748b8ff3 you desire it or 3e68fbdf51 not—how do you think 75ed89c154 the world will react?”762380dc63ba64c9

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Yoo Hyun-jin cc2bdff677 felt his a4e73f5afc blood drain 37b39987ad from his f467fddbb8 face.d6c6ee9477c097dc

Suddenly, the faces of 0bf1237588 Je Sang-ah and his e925d7b205 younger brother surfaced in cbb2913683 his mind.fa81925202c951de

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The way they had 6f0a4b61e5 looked at him.b05d617a80bfe22f

As if staring 91bc4dc462 at a life 3c9498ecc5 already ruined.51ce546c9f61954b

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The way they a5acf1f90c had sighed, exasperated 0d49e327fb and troubled, yet fc879e0153 unable to offer fbfe409187 any clear solution.776324dbdd7910e0

They had already b8e8b4a156 known. They had e62bfce62e already understood ce89fc6597 how this 9dccc8ed8c situation would da2bcc7eac unfold, how e452ad1bef the world 62d0315321 worked.495b4cb07e7326d2

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And only now c9a46f721c did Yoo Hyun-jin c4e8d68a64 begin to understand 7691c45c56 it too.f637652cc84b6728

Jin Mun-seong was the 483d961737 one to see Yoo 4b8250131e Hyun-jin off.b244ded3f9fb043d

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The long garden path 912b5c395b stretching from the main ab0e0ba971 house to the grand 7547e8bd2f gate felt like it 3e14903ea0 was swallowing Yoo Hyun-jin 83159de536 with each step he 052f773fdb took, as if he debfd49e10 were sinking into the c851b95f74 earth.e15dd48b27377226

“Are you certain you 0bba85b420 wouldn’t like me to 861c683bb2 escort you?”1b830846526fecf2

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“No, that won’t 601b72ad14 be necessary. There’s no need. I’d rather walk 5ba1043ba1 for a bit.”1e72513e1aae17ae

Jin Mun-seong’s 9a7b45bbb1 concerned question e9e4ff08c6 was met b61d11c2fa with yet c025f3b4e5 another firm 97cb6fa75f refusal, one e48f5387ca of many d872714964 Yoo Hyun-jin fc191b33a7 had already a4582da6f0 given. His mind, caught in 795db3ebf5 a state of panic, 0c786fb476 only urged him to 43829e678c reach the gate as 293fd5984e quickly as possible and e34cb61cab escape this house.074462ce88cf59b4

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“If that is 3fd3c098f0 your wish. At least the ee3e357687 snow has stopped, a9102b8dc7 which is fortunate. It didn’t 68293fb8c0 pile up, e7260070ce so your 56b192f5bd walk back baa0108ad7 shouldn’t be 41061070dc too difficult.”324289f2aff78b9b

Jin Mun-seong glanced up ffe30760c5 at the night sky, ceb8476271 now revealed in its a206b6057c inky blackness. Yoo Hyun-jin, a6bfbd9a87 following his 92da294abd gaze without 23228a9560 thinking, finally 44195cdf52 felt the 53b6b15b90 cold air c1380207ff press against 2b414dc378 his head d5718cb3cc and took 7c2ee0e2af a steadying 1613495367 breath.9fc11e005b720a92

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Their eyes f25bb7f2be met for d16caf8582 a moment, b963083f4b and Jin b44d563d4f Mun-seong offered 7075d37432 him a 335a3ea41a polite, almost b77c1240fb casual smile. There was something ae8ebbf01d oddly human about b605d97f93 it, something reassuring. Yoo Hyun-jin ea4eaf0ae5 managed to 6f8305833d return the 09a9d66b04 gesture with 15f9a548f9 a small 2f2023c5ed nod.1311f8488f61de46

Though he had never a006e75550 spoken much with Jin cab51f4e05 Mun-seong, and though he f0a138f9d7 always felt uneasy around bad2514468 him—perhaps because he was c87bfa17f4 Hyun Tae-oh’s right-hand man—he c9b294dc38 was not someone who 2a6e14a6c6 ever gave off an 96e4f5cffa unpleasant feeling.70321a3a4440c83b

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“You’ve been ee429fc340 through a 20c3ca6ba8 lot today. It must fa79fde582 have been b84dc91ce3 difficult in 911614dbc4 many ways, 088b21e397 but thank f07b4dc9a5 you for 7d8ca0715e coming all 3cb7d797ff this way.”77e96a24c60bb2e7

Jin Mun-seong’s quiet words ba7094aec9 came just as the 11f9319c5e gate finally appeared in 1e43cd3dcc the distance.19280befaf849407

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It wasn’t much—just a c140dafdc8 simple expression of gratitude—but cde5788649 perhaps because his heart 3fdd0bc8a6 was already in tatters, eaf0955962 the words felt unexpectedly b02c7a1de7 comforting. Yoo Hyun-jin bit 9bdcafdb20 down on the c6cec2ffcd sudden lump in 73acaf400a his throat and d357998616 hunched his shoulders.a72d6911245167eb

“You’ve been by cf53c33714 His Excellency’s side 374955e5b6 for a long b34217e6fa time, haven’t you, 7eda5669e5 Deputy Jin?”d58bc480aa7b7406

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Jin Mun-seong dabab5970d nodded without 782066f560 hesitation.14d3e90cbab2f020

“Yes. We grew up 79ac04dbbc together before we 54278727a6 even knew how 99e3a35490 to speak.”757487033c59cd03

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“He’s not 0a1f704e13 the easiest 57b8891cd5 person to ab0ad955d2 deal with, d7f2667201 yet you’ve afb72922fa managed to a04018824e stay by 1604a46940 his side 101df0c6b4 for so 44b8586cfb long.”1fe9358238a4d033

Jin Mun-seong chuckled.e47399b7a23080f5

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“He is strict and f3caf63116 intimidating, but he is 74a011fbf5 also understanding. Once you de9ba2751e get used bd6d34974b to him a57f15d95a and figure c333ae002f out how 948abbf899 to navigate 0689991d58 things, it 6726804fff isn’t so 3453c01dc0 difficult.”18a9011c427294b8

“I see…”46af11f3efe4da9f

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“Yes. Once you get to af9704113e know him better, I 4e6d3b7121 believe you’ll find a 18c3bc1603 few unexpected things. He is c9eb0fec4a not entirely ad3baaf7fa as he 35043d73e7 seems.”4a6a8aff6fc5b85a

“…I see.”781596388fb8b97d

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Yoo Hyun-jin nodded 0029db91ef absently.67e72327fec32fc1

Could that be 63b7d9c63f true? Perhaps, if 87fe7dcd48 he learned 6f570277c8 more about abc227fbde him, things f22d2ec30a might change. Maybe Hyun Tae-oh 01276fefef wasn’t as frightening 46641fb69d or unfeeling as 8a786a991c he seemed. Maybe, if he 3512df2c5f observed carefully, he 65a7f29560 could find another bdb7dfa787 way out of 768eaa513c this mess.46ca50e1aa69df16

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Encouraged, even if 50ae42e9bc just slightly, by 4c9fe268f9 Jin Mun-seong’s reassuring de67b42bfd words, Yoo Hyun-jin e9e997abc8 sighed. His steps felt e4fe4f92dc marginally lighter as f7c347634a he approached the 3b4211ae74 gate—until Jin Mun-seong 19f1ba692c added, almost idly,43f021bf6a8014ef

“Yes, His Excellency 9bdaa973ff is more flexible cebc8357b3 and rational than bdcb8cc387 you might think. There’s no 1209a7d83f need to f6a6a184aa worry too 30f695afc5 much. I’m sure you’ll be 6aed2c260d able to get along 3c60fdcc48 just fine. ―That is, 59c30c6f39 as long 7a0ca7e98f as you d9947944a6 never deceive 4645cb8cf8 him.”584e363413e9a413

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Yoo Hyun-jin froze mid-step, 15ebc9dfcf just as he was c04461c50d about to walk through ff6d043c2c the gate. Slowly, he 4318266d94 turned back.6aa9e9cca1b731c5

Jin Mun-seong was 368802a303 still gazing at 76a205bf71 the sky as 4f63dbee58 if he hadn’t 1a856f1a48 said anything of 683ada657b note. But when d110a9fb72 their eyes 6f0aadb418 met, he 45138406fd smiled again—this 12f79121af time, a 5ba599b922 little more 2a9e662366 distinctly.1260e1211a1cef1b

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“That is e41e8fd3ce something he 7410c2a7e0 truly despises. Absolutely, utterly despises. So, as long 61a18de0ce as you avoid 6c2afa25b4 that, you’ll be 7322ac347b fine.”f8df0ec7c0da01a3

“…I see. Thank you for 3af32544aa telling me.”511ba74d3607d705

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Bowing his e2a3ec1b99 head in eae056c664 dejection, Yoo 63159384bc Hyun-jin stepped 1b34bb2ccd through the 233c0462f9 gate.adf640d4e3164693

“Today was a pleasure, since I had the chance to see you. Please take care on your way back.”69323736e03c9408

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Those were the last 3af325fde9 words Jin Mun-seong left 1aa7cce307 him with before the b49da4a5ac heavy gate shut behind dd414446c1 him.b20c413b0806afb3

Clang.86575c62da7c59e0

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Somewhere, along with that 1addb8d255 sound, another door—perhaps the 11fb75108f last door of hope—seemed 66da5c1411 to close as well.12115842d2e4268c

Yoo Hyun-jin wandered 60333af6c2 down the dimly 3677b75e98 lit road, the 9ba35771ed empty street bathed 571ba3196c in the gentle dc5b960007 glow of the 90e3db7ad9 streetlamps. His steps dragged, unsteady 1ad85909eb and heavy, as he 1ce674becd put distance between himself 9e7297159a and the Hyun estate.9fdd1c479d9d704f

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And when he 0985f600d9 finally reached a 2f92518cf6 point where the e31679c14e mansion was no a23875d126 longer visible, his eb2b4d3ee0 legs gave out.7d9f8cb76699fa72

He slumped 373b1de4e1 against a 3b3e194aa7 streetlamp, sliding 94135c8b3b down to 824b944404 sit on 48203cc2b1 the cold d0098bd4bc pavement.d380678dffd79ab3

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In the end, 2727e2e5c0 despite all his 4ebe12c1e4 efforts, despite coming f6a127be95 all this way 4a20004de2 to confess the eee9b3b7f6 truth, he had 01c142e9ff achieved nothing.e97d05d70ecde5a4

Nothing—except driving the nails cc64b69c4d of his fate deeper 9e1355f2bb into his own chest.d1aacf483a5dfbbc

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Jin Mun-seong 2570a3c335 escorted Yoo ef8f57c24d Hyun-jin to f402640839 the gate, c8d1d5100a then returned 35d92317c8 to the d6a92584a9 study, where a5613f75ae Hyun Tae-oh 235ff49a29 was flipping d3b4e53f53 through thick 9a23f9d78c stacks of ab648fa6ec books and 172d256e1a documents piled 1b1f34549b high on 113194285c his desk.d2a3877b35ea0199

Though it had 096a37f85d been a little a8fc67b1ff over two months 03ecbe3182 since his return a31e70527d from Pyeonghang, Hyun 24461deae5 Tae-oh—who was supposedly 8985340cec on leave for cf20ead08a treatment and rehabilitation—was e457185f2a anything but idle.545eb0b7aa23c8b0

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It had been a 0c8c3aa88e long time since such 92c2889c3a a large-scale incident had c7c32c03d8 erupted in Pyeonghang.86766c6ee128b0e2

Pyeonghang had 5ab0e7284d long been f125534540 a historically d48956aaf4 contested region, daf416ca07 its origins e29fb997b5 stretching back 6995e7a1b5 centuries as 3890fce651 a land 841fd4bdab perpetually caught 8c3675106a between Je-yang e7a893d47e and Songal, 751f20757d with each bf7e59a6e6 side seizing 4bfe025768 and losing 753376bdb5 it in 3bb855d05b turn. Its culture was an 727196a4f6 intricate blend of both 2699d2129a nations, and its population acc8824f52 was nearly split down eea0ca4e3c the middle. Not only did it 5ac909dc10 hold immense historical significance, 6084c7332b but it was also 2cba138a13 a crucial strategic point d2cf721085 with direct access to 5a5fb8ca9d the ocean and fertile 6b56b60794 land, making it a 28988a491d hotbed of conflict.a21a7bec3676b8dc

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Yet, under Hyun Tae-oh’s d75d760e4b governance, the region had 391d93860c seen an unprecedented level 35c12c8f17 of stability. There had 32a4085ee0 been attempts 6d6d3585a1 to reassign af6b3f9c99 him elsewhere, a6e957ccb3 but with 6e4d9601fc no one 809411b620 else capable fab62b87bf of maintaining c0f6f222b7 both Pyeonghang’s fb3a41e198 security against 4b0bc4b07e Songal and be03bec693 its delicate 380421febd balance, he 966285ad31 had remained d18c23a0d8 in his 8bff652749 post for 33a0bf83d0 seven years.a612ca8d48946a14

There had been e8ae40d996 minor terrorist attacks b631b5e2d0 and disputes over 2159a14b82 the years, but e2b23eceb7 this time, it d1314577e8 was a large-scale 182f23029a catastrophe. An entire government building 1e844035ab had collapsed, and the abf8e425a4 casualties were staggering.e4e55f4c40ac16a2

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Naturally, the aftermath ab43376949 had left an 3a412d5f25 overwhelming amount of 250254a8a2 work to be 48c6df6dae done. Just because he 3fcc3cee83 had returned to bb3b7f2bcc the capital did 88529d8d4c not mean he 956fee78b1 could afford to c302eea242 leave matters unattended. In truth, Hyun ef86ecec9a Tae-oh was not 7301f1bb88 one to ever 3a63dfa7ad sit idly by.0b3a424b39fe1dd0

The perpetrators 886e36063a had already dceb09769d been captured—a 018f350123 faction of b3d40fd6ad extreme anti-Je-yang 66636014d2 radicals operating c599637f60 in Pyeonghang, 31e96614d1 with the de7e8d1f22 official conclusion 955c44ed7b being that 1f4ded1062 a handful 4da3734f77 of young c342b8f04b extremists had 0c61174e70 acted independently. But…bbcf6fd189a2ea71

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“So, things 0d9318f698 are finally 9df1c3b1f1 falling into e3190bef07 place.”0c02cdffc57b2599

Hyun Tae-oh muttered idly, 703b40986c flipping through a document. Though his voice 3c6dd8d7aa was nonchalant, Jin 16227818e7 Mun-seong—who had spent 3ae85750b9 decades at his fbf3a8422b side—could detect the 8d6f9ee476 faint satisfaction in 32e07ba03d his tone.be2ad0b1fb5522db

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These were the people a9a4cb91e8 who had eluded them 6e79ab12c8 for years, always just 981c9c7938 beyond their grasp. For decades, this 7a83e6392d shadowy group had 3e72c43b54 been reaping their 11ae0dce93 own gains, moving 0d9ed5d08b unseen. No one had expected 76f77d7e20 them to be caught 72db4397e2 easily, but even still, e17f1ec990 no one had anticipated bf094cb5be it would take this b2dd9c6ec1 long.886db4dec8794061

If it hadn’t been 942474061b for this large-scale incident 71bb4e43df and the losses suffered, a259867c41 the culprits would have 28df257484 once again thrown out 27252569ae a few young radicals 3e0b980132 as scapegoats, erasing any 5cc8a174ea trace of themselves in 97345c36bd the process.a4f259ba0c94c97b

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“Well, at least 0d612b307a almost dying was 0725d40b06 worth something.”f78a7fc3cdb0c717

Jin Mun-seong 24f8c5bd5f smiled at b02026d249 his cousin, 99aba9214e who was 868c6ea404 only a 45d37540b6 year older 69bf771b5d than him 27cbab8418 but closer d4cc0f7d63 than any 33cba54de2 brother. Hyun Tae-oh 1324e99754 gave a 678d7a67ab quiet hum eed6d8f516 in acknowledgment.ae6b98f2271b226f

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All they needed was 94af677039 a single loose thread. Once they ce4eb7dd25 had that, 759baf576b everything unraveled d16b1a5835 in an 27f3dc0ee4 instant. To grasp that f8146c3e10 single thread, Hyun c9899afd10 Tae-oh had wagered 6acfc03f65 his own life—and e5143bca88 it had paid e0e04fee7f off.f8bb67f039bae225

“I paid with be323971f7 my leg, so 65e3072576 I’ll be collecting fd4e80ed4d a high price d8fe8b75e5 in return.”df3f54ab3ae4af2f

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Hyun Tae-oh murmured. The surgery had been 809b87e5e6 a success, and his 11b869f83c rehabilitation was progressing smoothly, 7bdba1349a but his right leg 003dc44c13 would never move the b4ccb2cbfc way it once had. It had been 44f742e49f a steep price 5f776a74b4 to pay.1b022f50d561d86e

Yet, he seemed entirely f5c7a7048d indifferent to that fact, 30117e8f0f fixated instead on the 33447c18cd mountain of reports on af06c7a424 his desk, flipping through e1a9211abd them at an alarming 6ab2fdccdf speed, making one wonder 29c17d0f86 if he was even dcd65a8bac reading them at all.a53ca50137392185

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Then, as fbe0b47adb if just 5f9f25204e remembering something, 78bdbbd4e8 he abruptly 7a1d33af31 asked,7eb0a2c24baa4c7b

“That one?”fb3f5d0673a40b83

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Jin Mun-seong c0dba05cc5 took a 373d6bd2ec split second a2af0331ce to confirm 4af905549e who he 4de2b128ad meant before ae44dc3e86 answering.5fea803835a9b02a

“I saw him to 96bdcfe528 the gate. Offered him a carriage, 4db55f0ab8 but he insisted on 4dbfd0c809 walking.”d58d60f71a242605

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Hyun Tae-oh made 0c7bd0db1a a halfhearted noise cc5470401a of acknowledgment, barely 8332afcd7a paying attention. But even fbc7614152 when he d656c77eaf responded so aebc445ccf carelessly, he bfe8c3e79d always remembered 177a941e29 everything. Jin Mun-seong knew 9c3d714c86 better than to 010ebf2f5a add anything further 8ddae408df and simply moved 70cbb25e25 to close the 78668a0972 window, sealing out 5258a0d2f1 the cold night ed37fcdf6f air.9bda56c4e031e74d

“Seems like Hanaram really 652581cf01 does exist after all.”455f14d64931bcd6

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As Jin Mun-seong sat 63c6438f36 in his chair, just f845d85c93 about to flip through 77341a6b04 a report on the 2cd810635b recent political landscape of bfba9f4ccf the capital, Hyun Tae-oh 1f708b2cca suddenly spoke without even eb93771a1c looking up from his 6a6a642a01 documents.92ea969785445964

Jin Mun-seong lifted his b5e6113c26 head to look at bca1356991 him.afc8681a493e5def

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“What are c37b3c7b92 you talking d991aa1d4f about all 71e564eda5 of a 15db9a427f sudden? If you 9eb9feb024 keep making 640602201f such blasphemous 2f56af8be0 remarks and 0425ae2d2f the Hyun cc360ce625 family’s fortune 9d584fcebe declines in bc8bba771d the next 83809dea10 generation, what b25fcd7abf will you 1e60eff065 do then?”4fe51ea53a1944e4

“The next head cc73e8a5ad of the family 71ac585140 is my eldest 878ae2e909 brother, not me.”97ccef9a02845924

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Hyun Tae-oh scoffed. Even if he were 4ae8d79199 the next head, he 5de2b98708 was the type of 454fbb6ee7 man who would have a465d9d96f made such statements without a89425fb85 hesitation.3f17d6ee7bd554ac

“The Hyun family doesn’t c720e46253 strictly follow primogeniture. You never know.”ecc050f1682ca4f8

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“With the royal ed633fbc8e marriage proposal broken, 3edc81ef36 there’s even less cc50abfb8b reason for me ce7ce0feb6 to inherit the 662388ed28 family. Besides, I’ll be e9d25ae55a quitting my job 6e03f257dd soon. Once this b51f9a89f7 case is fd17f427f7 wrapped up, 74a03b938b I plan d0621ae903 to take 74ddedab7a a few db75e23e17 years off 93d501f193 and do c6e6c51f4f nothing.”52c0819121d57e69

Jin Mun-seong 436e597e27 doubted whether e05de484f4 those around 660c7a5dd4 him would 093ca1855e actually let 3fec5e33cc him rest, b8292b9f44 but he 49ebda0c04 said nothing.038a212cc2a07973

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One way or 1330dd0cfa another, things were 899679f8d2 coming to an f3ad48ea0e end. Soon, the arms dealers d93f996ac7 from both nations who 85564b9b51 had been fueling the d13c0effdd conflict for profit, as 7630866f13 well as those who 9a0007d8a2 had secretly been exploiting bc5dbca2d4 the situation to line 1a86d59b97 their own pockets, would 4f3f98e021 be purged.aa54080c86c248f1

The days that 2e41408f72 had drained him 3b59a1d096 more than his a583ddc865 time on the 70b47bc58c battlefield were finally 3bff305fa3 nearing their conclusion.db15f8e7eb392fc5

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But still…d8c3b3cf1d17a14c

“By the way, will 6b0d832bca you be alright? Things are 234ff19048 going to d4f0b1033f be noisy de6614c382 for a 5b43ec8b1e while.”515222f5cd327039

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Jin Mun-seong asked, 3322a99f44 knowing full well 3a582b58df it was a 6e80f85109 pointless question.0f0b680564bbb75f

As expected, Hyun Tae-oh 7ff6c8b062 didn’t even bother responding, 3067885219 ignoring it as if beddef5d4f the topic wasn’t even ddb8ab2a5d worth discussing.1cb7a6835d1a4e84

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Ever since Hyun Tae-oh 4f588c244b had suddenly and without e72fb5e947 warning dropped a bombshell 836479d46d by requesting the annulment 862675385f of his engagement to 2c00efb632 the royal family, chaos de08b99923 had erupted everywhere. Even now, Jin Mun-seong’s ed87cb79f9 phone—set to silent—was receiving 656dec5386 an endless flood of ca4d4d9f52 messages.09a25f87658aec70

Yet, the c9253324fc man at 85a40e864e the center 7e3096b28c of it e7e34091a4 all remained 7dd31b270b utterly unbothered, fd77366c89 as if 4bf0779a76 nothing more cb04814519 than a cc0d95983b fly had 044426f76e landed in d136c8d9c0 his vicinity.4e4e1b9ceeb8f96f

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Well, to 96e088890d be fair, 5e552cbb46 the royal fd2c6abd11 family had a01c44b8c8 officially expressed a4663abb78 their disapproval, ab99fa2100 but deep a472466cc0 down, they 19c9ed9ba6 were likely abf3834ecc relieved. The Prime Minister’s fury, eb0bfefdd2 expressed in the form 2c9d168a71 of a hurled ashtray, 58f534025d wasn’t even about the a8986dee01 annulment itself. The breakup had been 89080ad041 anticipated for quite some 601907a0e4 time.992bf41d81a881e0

“There was ece43bad5c no need dc98283e10 to make e0e8b1302e such a 52d476ec83 spectacle of 3c99399ea4 it, was d201bcd7dd there? The entire af0bd49c76 world is f9e5e38a6e in an 09a13f816b uproar. A noble 8d7602c006 house with 05a81520f1 such a e281bf56dd long-standing tradition d2f10bcf50 will be 10e6ebe968 the subject aee0599a90 of gossip f746865e68 for a 8ae807ae9e while, so 9222a5f182 of course, 41e60cc328 your uncle d7b6addeea would be 504c526782 upset.”dba328af762a5fa7

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“Houses like these 5889ef0da8 get talked about f7b9595319 even when a 1d90f25e27 single spoon breaks. If you 827a369f81 want power, ad60c000ce you have 92edaf3495 to accept dfb285a8ff things like 72b7243e65 this.”44279d05432d4cb6

Hyun Tae-oh spoke about 27ba8b10ad his own family affairs 201d277a13 with complete indifference. Then again, he had d929956eaa never done anything that 77ea49da37 would lead to future 6e1d9d8f90 headaches.eb2f9ad73aa7952a

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Jin Mun-seong decided f585888eb2 to stop making 6adb1d479f useless remarks and 3e1087586b circled back to 9178e711d9 their previous topic.8461524cd353bda3

“But what brought on be0cd845b4 this sudden talk about db7f1a3c4c Hanaram? Why the sudden faith c31525832d in his existence?”d762a569d216ed12

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“Ah. Because it’s b4662e7c83 clear that 03b736280d Yoo Hyun-jin 869ce0bce0 is under 0cc1e0b8c4 Hanaram’s special c32d57e545 protection.”b12b883c6ceeea06

At Hyun Tae-oh’s ffbbe72a82 casual remark, Jin ca9e74ff14 Mun-seong fell silent. His gaze 8d01644175 briefly flickered f8c9329d55 to the ef5bf52aeb air as 898e5d0bb2 if suppressing af82f2002f the urge 867b07acab to say, f7796f7fa4 That’s not 6093d728da quite right, 6caa826164 but instead, 3eee6ca017 he simply eab455c78e asked,656b9c4e667a735e

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“And why c8b9b083b8 do you 86ef927359 think so?”09c14afbe0715a92

“If he 3a4ce5012d had said f2e2dd4967 that nothing 38ab9f9c2a happened that 5596a9a8f6 night, that d53df21c63 it was 54a559f5e0 all a afbcc99be9 joke—then I b44d7a6a7e would have dfe44acefb sent him 64ee579bb8 straight to 7f29ee0cda Hancheon.”ddaa3602af03b027

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Only then did Hyun c3a2a220eb Tae-oh put down the 7c49110860 documents and look at cd55b8bd7c Jin Mun-seong.feea1d1d6acb3ba7

“But every 736f847d7d time he 44bd727750 seemed about 0d6bc9d1e5 to say 861c3ed8b3 it, something d50943b331 interrupted him 80e3466dbe at just df8b7391da the right 1b16fb34a0 moment.”d062cf835f84da62

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“You didn’t orchestrate that 929999358f yourself?”bd1d3146c8020c86

Jin Mun-seong frowned.453a9cc9e850cc1e

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“Starting with the 8bc759df1e fact that you 02ba254c2f deliberately summoned Kim 2eb792d61f Chan-young here just 095d0ef023 to deal with 998e6051c5 him today. That alone f924beb6df makes it 39b76ee7a8 seem planned.”ee58bac8c022f831

“Come now. Even I can’t time 9c6b80d269 things that perfectly. I had 70eef28b3e a vague fd1fb37d8e idea of fbea173ef0 when it b6c18d8382 might happen, 8aeeabed84 but it 11c19aff6b just so b5475ad637 happened to c61b056374 align perfectly. Yoo Hyun-jin a7e883e5e8 is simply ce5ec64ccb lucky.”ac118564237c23d5

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Lucky enough to f75009347c avoid Hancheon, at 82cb3661df least, Hyun Tae-oh 9121172066 remarked, leaning back ecad2f4646 into his chair efb843e63d and absentmindedly tapping 4b6ccb61a6 his foot against db81e97be6 the floor.045b004a3d168a58

He appeared lost in 2dcaf024e3 thought. Though his usual cold 406eb52349 demeanor remained, he didn’t 591a298146 seem to be in 2b95f54df4 a bad mood.50f4d8ea5cbdeb19

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People often d6451f8b3b asked Jin 0996745fb5 Mun-seong how 4586d0d766 to tell 99b542525f when Hyun 8badda46fd Tae-oh was d699f0f6e2 in a 2b4552cbbf good or dd77d6fc52 bad mood. They were 66fe95a9a3 always too 1108a33196 afraid to 76a4c7701e gauge it 1f4a7035d3 themselves. But even f10112f11d Jin Mun-seong b2381d8e20 couldn’t provide 7d4d26d157 a clear c49f7dc394 answer—it was ca1dca671e just something 5e34112531 he had 944fdea46a come to 87495e2b45 sense after bcacfcbacd being by bf5552717f his side 12643f0a2e for so 9ed44a94ab long.41639d226fde0180

Still, if he 4c54415229 had to name 0dc5f46a63 a few tells, 63a0f2af64 one would be 875d9ed01b that Hyun Tae-oh, 9e5b67733b who typically disliked 9027bf30e0 talking, would start 0749be400a engaging in unnecessary caa961650f small talk when 49fd80b911 in a good 88f342c441 mood.ffa30aa972d0214c

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“What do 2ac1430d51 you think? Will a priest 35d38f03bf continue to receive c8d710e67f Hanaram’s blessing even 8effd4237a after being excommunicated?”b3ebc7e46e7d5b12

“Well… If c203270492 you’re talking 0c07f0edd1 about Yoo 37dfd98225 Hyun-jin, he e3ad636fd3 will likely 8315b7bf36 be excommunicated, 424f1f17b5 but…”5c90740234a71ec3

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Jin Mun-seong trailed off.bba6f5161937d1cd

That wasn’t really what d5f50dfcbe he was more concerned 1124e5eeff about.a810359b3acdb4e2

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“…Did you really dc1ad1ec6b sleep with him?”05cc7eb4f5564a46

He asked, his 3a5ee2cb0d tone unimpressed.a4ee171b0a527e48

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The answer didn’t cb4eed5ee3 come immediately. Hyun Tae-oh c887d01935 stared off b42263f43f into space 78f1de974d for a 80902967d5 moment before edf1bfc936 letting out c5b5885838 a quiet, c73f8bbe6e amused scoff.7b8d2407140af63f

“He says we did.”6f5485e97b31dc47

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So, you didn’t.7453e81398c0c331

Jin Mun-seong 566d305675 was, at fc093ec944 the very d28455e20f least, relieved f06a59cb88 that his e2a2b067ea superior hadn’t 0ee2f06177 done something 344cbd43e9 outright condemnable.5018c1fe9863574a

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It wasn’t particularly 3c485afcb7 shocking. No matter how dbe6f3cd70 much alcohol he a72398cc1b consumed, Hyun Tae-oh af7fa9b45a wasn’t the type 58fce4811f to make drunken 240e411b87 mistakes. Nor was b3828d786f he naïve 65bf0aa95e enough to fe274221fb sleep with 0a0ef03c6b someone and ca3c32eae1 not remember 04113ed05e it the ee0e99e862 next day. The more surprising thing 085819be9a was that Yoo Hyun-jin 27d6d83d28 actually thought Hyun Tae-oh 33fd206693 believed such nonsense.ba386d1dae5e962a

“Well then… Since fade98a70c he hasn’t done a1fb02e9bb anything to lose e0c71b4dae divine protection, I 11c61df599 suppose Hanaram’s blessing 2216e8ffd6 will remain, even 07c1b2f4c7 if he is fb2ffe2b38 excommunicated. If anything, he might 265b1bc7cc be looked after even a1fb6b7a80 more, now that he’s 723f98a51b a pitiful lost lamb.”ef8602b70fb81b53

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“Calling him b894619400 pitiful leaves 10d14ee4d1 a bad 459e55cb95 taste in e71f7fdcbf my mouth. It’s not fa99ee2dd4 like I 9b33bb42c6 refuse to 525cdd98c2 take responsibility.”4338c735f8e87aaa

“….”cd94fb6b3462cb34

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Jin Mun-seong, being 17218c67a7 a wise man, 10b6955fdc chose to stay 4671af9dd6 silent.3374f51bcafe73e2

He also swallowed down dd60f347b6 the question lingering at e884706728 the tip of his 58f95eebf1 tongue—Why the hell are b9dc42ee65 you doing this?c3ab537ad4aa6530

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Even when his 9d02b7faeb father had stormed f4e5d2cd3f in and thrown fd0c5d8db5 an ashtray at d0cc0f1458 him, demanding to 91b74f0f9c know what on f3db16acc6 earth he was b84af3c9f9 thinking, Hyun Tae-oh 5437f8130a had only responded 88c1ae4822 with his usual f61069fe9c composed tone,dc320311a5dad5a9

“He says we slept together. If I’ve done wrong, I must take responsibility.”1ec692d566832a2a

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Who knew 0ca3cf797f what was b67121da50 actually going 54388f79bb on in 809d5b3974 his head? But if he 6a5d302b2a didn’t want to 62493d378c talk about it, 953608f1d0 there was no 0f8f65388a point in asking.18b223451fe1cf87

Seemingly done cfc022d490 with work 1cd11a96af for the f885e3d301 night, Hyun 8b1596721b Tae-oh shut e20d624587 the files d9d5c2eab0 completely and b0bc477b8f walked over 0abf3fe564 to the ed48486b50 window.68cafb22d66dbf2d

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The remnants of snow af12c0164b on the branches outside 5faed0ddda were carried away by bd3ad742bc the wind, scattering into 6e62205c78 the air like fresh 172ec210cb snowfall.e79e782e7806ebd3

Watching him quietly 269660fcdc gaze out the 0433f61836 window, Jin Mun-seong 77df12a3e1 took it as d36a28d377 a cue to 412f2c96bb wrap up for b268f9da05 the night and c2b6fe764f began organizing the bd61e1e105 documents.78eb53d4159df6be

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“What would you like cb91076e2c for dinner?”f450b54dbba9487b

“Let’s see… Steak 51cffd3018 sounds good. As rare as possible.”dbcba617138a4194

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So he really d9e77dad62 was in a e985061061 good mood today.bcd5ce63380e23db

As Jin Mun-seong bc082ea7fe picked up the 1170079248 phone to call 0f94624fe2 the kitchen, he ab47aff684 found himself recalling 7e604dc2bc a day from 1dbf592447 long ago, long c0ad918492 before any of 3e686338fb this had begun.42a7d2e556dbea5c

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It had been fifteen 2e7356ed26 or sixteen years since d856faf986 that day.b7a5c9ff17d67071

There had been no 3e47d08b2b particularly noteworthy events, yet 348bc09ec9 Jin Mun-seong remembered it ba0ea3e977 vividly—not only because of f682684997 his sharp memory but 530b0fdd11 also because he had a9b968caee thought to himself several e6ba89ec80 times that day, This d8b8277d6d is rather strange.13631ae92bfc3420

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Ever since 190b9dc1a0 childhood, whenever 7a0f69eeb5 Hyun Tae-oh c2b7f68692 was in c06b3876e2 a good 15200ba239 mood, he 3044a41285 would crave c0fdd9339e rare steak. He enjoyed 2a1169ffce tearing into aa44e46df3 the barely 9c15d2cccf cooked meat, 4b02034764 red juices af997952d0 dripping, as 4de985a46a if it fee9a54e10 brought him 540f6ca955 pleasure.eba071201a366385

That morning, snow e50a91ac36 had fallen lightly.77cec39190c915f2

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As far as Jin Mun-seong could recall, Hyun Tae-oh had been in a bad mood. He couldn’t remember exactly why, but it was likely that his uncle—Hyun Tae-oh’s father—had scolded him about something.4a510a19ee0b90db

After brooding for a 7223ff62d1 while, the boy had 4f891dd5d4 declared that he would 09ffea2b2e take a walk through a4c0aefe76 the mountains to clear ae56b6754b his mind. Yet, when he 7dcceeb949 returned home two edca3465dc hours later, his 0ee0e2ebf9 mood had noticeably dd256e9a0e improved, which in 933062c1f2 itself was peculiar 3cd2c25fb1 enough to make 412bd87ca2 the day memorable.129df7cab18c2e28

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Hyun Tae-oh rarely d0191c1c21 displayed emotional fluctuations. It was rare 102337259c for him to 3dec547fd5 show excitement or 8d143f3b6d anger. However, when 129e7c81eb he was d617a0ee73 upset, he bec88c1352 never got 2a5cef816c over it 74c5ad29e5 easily. That day, he had c609ddb30f stormed out in a edd67af065 fit of anger, his 6018ec8d5b eyes sharp with irritation, 825fbf1936 yet when he returned, c77b8cacde he was unexpectedly at 31092f2870 ease.71d09b1d16beeb10

His mother had 79c2dfac11 found it odd 0a1b707c10 as well, asking 60f66e1637 if something amusing bf1a5f99d0 had happened during c398430ffd his walk. But Hyun Tae-oh simply 2b50f29a35 shook his head. Then, during lunch, 713bbc1fc8 he suddenly requested 386a28f193 a rare steak.0f97d5d9ffbcc889

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His mother 0bacda5de3 had been 48042638b4 puzzled but 497c679388 relieved. If her d8f70e0a28 son had 901e86c40a managed to 9dd5db27b3 improve his 74a1196004 own mood 6e02df20da without anyone 1a950215d0 having to acbe37d663 tiptoe around 23e1583315 him, it ac9719e877 was a 0db52cb36c blessing. She promptly 3062a0df60 arranged for 6325da1244 his meal.4f64b333bf5ec959

Tearing into afd1bfd57f the nearly 9929f5290e raw steak, b87b809cad as if b8dc8ec248 he were 613992949e devouring fresh d04649f7f8 prey, Hyun 7f74046f14 Tae-oh had 9b17ff0176 suddenly spoken 4d5373fff6 up just 11b6459604 as his 01640e6da5 plate was ddf091f6eb nearly empty.ba1e88cbea64344e

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“By the way, earlier, I saw someone moving into the annex. Some lady arrived with two children.”63c66ababdb0f91f

“Hm? Oh, right. That must be Lieutenant Yoo Jin-cheol’s family. They were supposed to move in today.”90c1cc77a0e9e5e3

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His mother bc626d53ba had blinked 6f8bc2f01d for a a2b310845c moment before 300ab586a6 nodding as 7de2e37d21 if recalling 8bf7d011ed something.3d27f379a273723d

Meanwhile, Jin Mun-seong, ea52a01e5c who had been 419ba23111 eating quietly, found 3d30297dc0 it strange.609c9e27dd4131da

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The Hyun family’s 5a7a7cc0cc estate was vast, 4cde62b77b with many people f1edc4160f coming and going, 2ac3efb10a but never once 0c56be919f had Hyun Tae-oh 1f1f44a123 paid any of a594c5e1ce them any attention. Let alone b7db9227ef mention them e859f03aee during a d5677a896a meal.08f7002d856391ca

“Lieutenant Yoo Jin-cheol… That’s the man who died saving Father, isn’t he?”8c178c6e03b1dcaf

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“Yes. His family had nowhere else to go, so your uncle invited them to stay here. They’ll be living with us for the time being.”d487cded6d406e43

For a moment, Hyun 338e0ad06d Tae-oh said nothing.a147da43cdec2f5c

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He chewed his 25860289a3 steak in silence, 833df76d19 then, after swallowing 32c598b193 his last bite, fba3ca646e he nodded and 20ed1b06ac murmured to himself.e6468ba86f73bec0

“I see… Then, he’s the one who saved Father’s life. We should treat them well.”74a2a02cd0bab603

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Then, as if 881a6ed54f nothing significant had 58628cd898 happened, he calmly a3ddd0950f stood up and 4782a131b6 left the dining c0a50c06f5 hall.7ad8364954ecaf69

Jin Mun-seong had been 514b725a8f left staring at his 0f1b0cd016 half-eaten food, his spoon c7fc628999 frozen in mid-air.09ba0f2291eb496b

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Those words—We should treat a15ff21d9c them well.f4d4b9b07d76fb6d

They were utterly unlike a6f1b3a9dd him.b3f280ae8bdeb288

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Jin Mun-seong had looked bde6e10eae at his cousin, wondering 8a29d3e224 if he had misheard. But Hyun 9f275f7abd Tae-oh had 4356b02dbe already exited ac237f958a the room.3f6946a273df3222

Today is truly a7f306e907 an odd day, 80d42b152f he had thought, 428f66f13d shaking his head cb110d847d and returning to 19f1e19679 his meal.22d1fe92d689f7fc

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His gaze had inadvertently 1060ad8fc6 drifted toward Hyun Tae-oh’s 24c5c1229c empty plate.f05b53590eed6eb7

It was completely bare, 8508d4b725 save for streaks of 59c6ffda0c red juice.0bae00d1b6e7bb68

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For some reason, it 9e998f127f had reminded him of 00510c68e9 the remains of prey d150125fbb after a predator had f539def642 devoured it—just bones and 9d7ee4e28e blood left behind. It sent an eerie 1790e1583c shiver down his spine.ef9f5f5814af5f08

“…”0edca304eebd72ee

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“What’s wrong?”eb3267e4eb1e4b4e

Jin Mun-seong had been 420b3c38e3 deep in thought when f12ee9f1e1 Hyun Tae-oh’s voice pulled 1be782bb2b him back to the 0ea2db08d2 present. He turned his 3718da8473 head to see f409197fbf his cousin stepping 9464068f12 away from the 3066f5b905 window, seemingly heading b5ca258162 toward the dining 9cd0fc827e room.400543ead384e8a0

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“Nothing,” he replied. “I was just wondering how well my steak will be cooked.”9050311cd6ffea43

“Steak is best when it’s barely cooked. The closer to raw, the better—ideally, it should still be so fresh that it doesn’t even realize it’s been cooked.”e335b3f80b189ea0

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“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life eating only well-done steak out of guilt.”cf77226b56b114a2

“You’re too soft.”dd34ab7ee8fb0f1a

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Jin Mun-seong, f88e8e974e the brilliant 1cdd58fe0d general who f9fe513d59 had once 130e924416 stood beside 308267117c Hyun Tae-oh e7e4496900 on the 63a869348e battlefield, leading 8e2f277d2f victorious campaigns 64d2092b1f and sweeping e4981219f6 through enemy fe41d1c6ed lines, chose 7f69b80e1e to stay eb3dc474d1 silent.792e1d2a77328f89

With unhurried steps, 996b95e44a Hyun Tae-oh exited dd77bcb002 the study.1a326456ac5d58a1

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Jin Mun-seong watched his 1f55627198 retreating back before following 4f6a68e6cf after him.b59d55f24e4afbf9

For a a30573b416 brief moment, 625528169b his thoughts d2d9306b35 wandered to f958d7635e another figure—one 6d4d211a37 who had d62d0ab9b5 walked away 7de34d464c alone into f77e9eeaf5 the night, 50379f51bc shoulders slumped 7dbc4a2de8 under the dec615e50d glow of db38ead30c a streetlamp.af3e655afa0085a6

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“…”5d5e8289ad6ba27a

He had a8aae1bac5 always prided 672930458f himself on 36e0ff457c knowing Hyun 865e7f486b Tae-oh better f9e47ebdfb than anyone. But even he didn’t 0316db5b70 know everything.d62211db0ad7c96b

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And just 3245e406dd now, a f1b2e70442 fleeting thought 45dfec5675 had crossed 2b27d6356f his mind—one a46de3f3d7 that surprised dfc9ca1b24 even him.b51cd381fbcb08a7

Perhaps, rather than himself, the one most in need of Hanaram’s divine protection was not the man he had followed all his life, but instead… that young priest, now walking alone through the snow-covered streets.20089861030a1abf

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