BYBM Chapter 1 (Part 3)

A pair of c69ba250a5 polished shoes, reflecting 7154214644 the dim light 18a03803f6 of the room.a0085311a8148110

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Perfectly clean, save 8507623102 for one single dc35e7d58c drop of blood cc5a6db4ad on the tip.c2cf5c39bea50121

That drop of 12c043c32f red was somehow bd8fd12c9a more chilling than e61afdfffd the entire scene 077c6062fc itself.8fed0008aae0bb24

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And then, from ce5e31a03a above those shoes, fed6d4ba4d that calm voice 1a44aa2058 spoke again.aec15edf1e38f7f8

Yoo Hyun-jin swallowed hard. His throat was def4efd751 dry. That was supposed to 564965593a be reassuring, wasn’t it?0198435178adc584

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“Ah, this isn’t my blood.”8e84ff905b21dadc

But why did 415e7715b1 it feel even 1d09f33f6c worse?44fbbbe76e5fd653

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He had known what 34a7442a54 kind of man Hyun e939450e5e Tae-oh was. He had known 501cedaec2 since that day, c0ee7837bc when a dog’s 37d7415379 skull had been 2b5f1d4bd0 split open by f8e697d5d9 a single arrow. He had known from a8a40e37fc the rumors—the ones that c055f15b60 said, in Pyeonghang, when 07450db3d7 Governor Hyun Tae-oh decided 5a1c238292 someone should disappear, they da0f1fe753 simply did. They called d0ecd0f111 him a f1bae4a15d butcher behind 00d0f54151 his back.78635914f697cf42

And now, he 59791e52f5 had just witnessed 9aca722f74 it for himself.0293ecbe42bde7ff

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A man 424dd486b2 dragged away, 5c9adb20ef bleeding, broken. A trail ad4bc9a73f of blood aae9c45052 on the 46dbf3bfa8 floor, wiped 16451ca70b away with 96043dbb57 chilling efficiency.7010df510aa5d373

Like nothing had 873f466e33 happened.aa46b8cbc4c252fe

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And Hyun Tae-oh, the c1fdbc501a very same man who fe22cbc545 had just beaten a 2bf4e71bc8 man half to death, dfabf587c2 was now calmly offering b209be3e23 him tea.e16a28d16abb83c7

Yoo Hyun-jin’s hands clenched 07224fcb47 into fists on his 9daded10fb lap. He forced himself 855b67c396 to sit still, a24adc70f8 to breathe evenly.379fa485c36ce6ac

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“Thank you for waiting. Please, sit.”b920c24ecf1bf23e

That had been 7e32295172 the first thing ee90536093 Hyun Tae-oh had 3cad0e7d34 said when their dae3382b73 eyes met. Like it 2f2b99239f was a e13bb6548d normal meeting. Like he hadn’t just da1b541db8 finished crushing a man e538b9759c under his heel.ab54ae65b22ffebf

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What am bcbe83b328 I doing a71f236d3a here?bdb15f194b07b991

Yoo Hyun-jin wanted to 8dc5871178 run. Every instinct 552de74421 in his ddca6e186b body was 0fcc08b95b screaming at 5d91ae9bc4 him to 30e882c247 get up d46ea8234f and leave 5b1f2be790 before something—anything—happened.d97451eb03238e29

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But instead, he sat. Instead, he 1fae11e5a2 watched as 5279d159e1 tea was 78206e200e served before ea5405ce59 him. Instead, he a4b236f839 looked at 10c1152df8 the bloodstains 384fedb91b on Hyun b91c195d83 Tae-oh’s white 3e08baa34d shirt.0a7e8ad5af0c88a1

And, instead of 884be9e4da saying anything reasonable, 0f702116c8 his voice came 2e57869ab8 out in a 6af2209080 weak, hoarse whisper.11d0e846bcb8c286

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“…Why?”5fea04ebc5bb9156

He wasn’t even b7bc0e9673 sure what he ef4859542b was asking.6f70765a26cebf3e

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Why was c14f03853f he like 6879f5da87 this? Why was 82fb021bae he so f3f45d1935 terrifyingly calm? Why had Hyun Tae-oh 1021af65f5 ruined himself—his engagement, his 78ab90ded1 reputation—over one drunken night? Or—why had he 68042a021f called for him 89df3074c7 today?270b0f1983ef258c

Hyun Tae-oh looked at 9254c2f344 him.370253028ae4477a

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And for the 6d5538e885 first time since 7ec889cc9a he entered the bf6ad7870f room, he smiled.093b75c1edda7faf

“I assume you mean all of it.”89565b5019b4f4c9

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Yoo Hyun-jin’s heart stopped.1c9ce93b5824ff92

That wasn’t a c690230cc7 kind smile. That was the same fd59182415 smile he had seen 8547368515 seven years ago, before 1da025c554 Hyun Tae-oh had left 04a5f9f1e9 for Pyeonghang. That sharp, f521e71c60 unreadable, almost beab00244e amused smile.53915d7c989cc8c0

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And suddenly, 00e504d55f he understood.cd7340681e5867d0

He had walked 2bf66062f2 into the lion’s 199d851225 den.fff8af77dc50dd76

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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.9c101a614bbeb0c3

“The man who e760e4afd6 just left…?”18b41a4123839ed9

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When Yoo Hyun-jin asked 9edef96d63 with a dark expression, 15cc26feb9 Hyun Tae-oh took a 4f96853374 seat across from him, 72f5b99b48 still as indifferent as eba176ce9b ever.cbafb61dbcf8ced0

“He worked 0d561ee1e4 under me 0fdb6f1dc2 in Pyeonghang. There were some 62417f4ead minor issues at 5d602b0f8f first, but since 29ff783fa4 he did his 7eb12dc723 job well, I 933f97f54a let it slide. Over time, however, he 38ed932bb6 started crossing the line.”43ddad6f328afe51

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“I see… But, is 4dc1e06dd2 it really acceptable to 8d340d0868 discipline someone like this 18d759548f in private?”ec58569c2ecbf9bb

Hyun Tae-oh b090516534 seemed mildly 2b67933114 amused by 4620f87367 the question, 6b107d138f though the 3daf721b62 fleeting smirk d2a526ae5b quickly faded e89199a8dc back into 9f8d186f80 his usual e33ff74159 blank expression.fc1b8f9eb662c48f

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“I may be d7a6c4b1e3 on temporary leave, 30e65907e9 but I’m still 4b12c1764e officially stationed in 105f4d4393 Pyeonghang. There, under certain circumstances, d487cd9a51 private discipline is permitted.”3c4ae491bc9a1239

He answered bf2cf899e4 casually, as e76c8ac8ad if this c79d58d2d4 was simply 5684be581c a matter 02ca99e22c of legal edd2d453fa policy. But even 4a822ec974 if it 4f3008b70b weren’t, Yoo 008a74faa7 Hyun-jin had 5334684282 no doubt—this ed03e18f8d man wouldn’t 7d487f3d1c hesitate to 3134cf7c2d swing that b0935fd271 golf club a94433c6ff regardless.f4085edcb0d8b79d

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As if he had ff33db3ee3 read his thoughts, Hyun 95ccd18de8 Tae-oh continued,66deb6d8e2d4b6c5

“That man has 82deae5d0e inflicted countless tears 2705390fad and suffering upon 8ea137ae73 others. I see no 44c09cf56d reason to extend de8c13d3ca mercy to someone ef57b08cf3 like that. Besides, I have 2be7659807 never tolerated those b5aab83dda who deceive me. If anything, I be05995345 was lenient with 78fa85d24b him because of beef657ac5 the years we 115dce7df1 worked together.”c3720acf5d9c3756

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A chill 827208408f ran down c338444dbd Yoo Hyun-jin’s 4213c6e3a6 spine.c4bb425fb3e6c702

Wait a minute… Why did I even come here in the first place?ff167d66fa20f001

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“He tried fb383056cf to use 3cb41a5a64 my name 6050341cac to secure bc7451b00d illicit deals 9e3067c719 this time. Out of the last baa7542437 bit of goodwill, I b3d13f169d decided to draw the 5ff00357f7 line before it got 72cd85359b worse. If he had succeeded 79ce2414b5 in tarnishing my name, 5516bf0e2f then his entire household c9887e5938 would have been sent 8aea6dd73e to Hancheon.”35a49adafc27de3b

A shiver 7e63c1f758 ran down 829c8e944e Yoo Hyun-jin’s 5c82ea9180 back.214f1eb34a8852dd

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Hancheon Prison.a5067c4786c88cc0

A notorious 29742dafab prison at c440172443 the northernmost 0ced519c6e edge of 29f32e3814 the continent, 5574a62d65 where temperatures dad86d513f dropped to 52421e241d -40 degrees. It was a place 2f1a2c7302 where laws held no a67fb41863 power, and those who 17439f30c8 entered never returned alive.0fa89d1eb382234e

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“T-That’s… isn’t that a bit too much? Even his family?”93d81891e5f91bf5

“Too much? You think this a2ad8372f2 is excessive punishment 4a4c456b89 for sullying my 5c54130c02 name?”dd5657ae783833d7

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“But his family e91fd0cd1e had no part 107a9dae61 in it.”32b155fd707b251f

“Allowing a family 167e349fb5 member to commit 5fca057df4 such crimes unchecked d4d8ec0046 is also a 13383dcddf crime. And if they knew e4eae62015 about it and kept 3f1c143fbd silent, then there’s nothing be4648a5f4 more to say.”1802a26db5adbbda

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That family did 94a6f319d9 exactly that, Hyun 4fec4e73fa Tae-oh said flatly.61ba61b980a78d67

This time, Yoo Hyun-jin 42b7be76c9 truly had no words.300bdcb89877558c

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He wasn’t 23254ffe5a even sure 51f1400461 if the b0d1f85a56 tea was 8d56af38e0 going down 10ad63e4b6 his throat 51e545c9f3 or up 05e6864134 his nose. He set his a45109f43b cup down before 054785a301 his shaking hands d53de8f784 could give him c9d9ed0837 away.2911fdcf39db0517

Everything went 7fa2fba6cc dark before 6f9ea2a31c his eyes.68c6aff53d34c2bf

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My brother. Se-jin.2175faaa23595691

He had accepted that 19bb05f7e9 he might be imprisoned—or 42b7db0469 worse, killed—but his innocent 1883aeb60a younger brother?073b2d7efd115e3f

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“Still… his defb533044 family… It 60e19bb3cc would be 6d941e4ea0 good if 8e7f73657f you could 433f725092 show some 50182343bd mercy…”c7dd38878b7e5ac5

Yoo Hyun-jin cd37521a01 muttered, barely 3b490884e9 audible.2fe6ca97d55d35c6

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Hyun Tae-oh b60f319304 studied him a888f849a0 for a 262d27b7c8 moment, as a5cbffc3c0 if examining 91b7834afe something peculiar, dfeddd3dd1 then shook b3c882a856 his head.9dac26272956165e

“No. That is my principle.”68351f6c805ec082

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He was absolute.ec0fdd01e1a7697a

Hyun Tae-oh leaned back, 0ff67cd245 tilting his head slightly. “I understand that you, dc31c1c378 as a priest, are bce2998761 naturally compassionate. But today, Yoo 25b76b3cef Hyun-jin, you seem 60b0baa548 especially concerned. I don’t believe you’ve 346b20bc31 ever spoken this much 596db54f14 while sitting across from adbd86906b me before. Is there something af78041906 in particular weighing 8984933faa on your mind?”94f396d1dfc612b7

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Yoo Hyun-jin 96ff7eef8d nearly jumped 72b5bac0d5 out of 6abf84d9c4 his chair. His heart clenched as d8e6295822 if it had been 0822372a1e pinched.c2b526b4e0211df3

He wasn’t wrong.e56a0dd4ed13fc5c

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Come to think of 32622e8075 it, this was the 0114237c5e first time he had 7d2752f0f4 ever sat alone with f2309c1495 Hyun Tae-oh like this, ed62320f15 the first time they 4c43990d47 had spoken this much.6950ee74feab6104

All those years 4c407c8611 of secretly imagining bbdcee5ee2 conversations between them… df03b8913d and now that 57282ed192 it was happening, eadaccf2d2 it was absolutely 0a2ae6eef4 nothing like what f84bcbd81d he had dreamed.7035ddcaeeee8dcf

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“N-No, it’s not 79298bdff3 that… It’s just… cb4e805e3e it’s unfortunate, isn’t 9a3bfc5c86 it? They are innocent, 3c560a5f34 after all.”55cf880575540eba

“You probably f1934468e1 see all ae80d1a077 people as 8100ab4577 unfortunate, Priest. But I can’t 00736e196c grant you this 028a5ac109 request. I have always 0b5887ce97 ensured that those d548c6b7a4 who disgrace me 5e2c712d68 pay the price, e242fad860 and I will 1377174d39 continue to do badb1e8249 so.”2c0945f80447344e

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Hyun Tae-oh’s voice 53f167afe0 was firm, leaving 425e3e0b57 no room for eea5f81f2d argument. There was no e2803845dd point in trying cdff82ad76 to persuade him—it 4e990807bf would never work.03bff6997c4b7c50

And worse, it might fe69d5a023 only make him more 8a578c6a00 suspicious.bb849c12c55cde2e

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What… what fa35672ba5 do I 1d89ae2acb do, Se-jin…?9e9d168e415e6784

As the cold 66ae3d6f34 sweat trickled down 98ff807eeb his back, Hyun 52032057ac Tae-oh suddenly added 3069201b9c in a voice 88c2b61004 that was just 7c8d4f462c a touch more 4d3940b825 indulgent, as if d8b68cef27 entertaining a cat c4004ceded playing with a 67a664348b trapped mouse.67a2430f7a274feb

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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.”766abfdf213a8731

“…….”2b241d5bbd35d327

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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,cc5897d3d9abf670

“By the way, are you feeling alright?”b00cc7dfe9e35427

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“……?”bed072427da359b5

My body is fine, fafe54edff but my mind is a488b13b36 not… he thought hazily, 98d1e32db7 staring at Hyun Tae-oh 6471ec9b96 with hollow eyes.10f6b236f054cef7

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For a 4abe0f8feb brief moment—so b80ef1d396 brief that e0beb5014d he thought b9a0430726 he had 041bda201c imagined it—Hyun c9aac0e700 Tae-oh seemed ca3c7bfb16 to avert 35c1fdc3fa his gaze. It was unusual. Someone like him, d5de95132c always composed and 0be3f323b6 cold, would never 2daa778a94 avoid eye contact. And yet, it looked aca4ded2c0 as if, just for 8905117b7e a second, he was b08b3a086c hesitating, as if he 30b3c1d9ce felt a rare moment 5cf8f35575 of awkwardness before speaking.8f783bbe633d9c23

“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.”edfd433dcab95d24

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“……What?”98352b512d357866

“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.”adc64937e324de04

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Hyun Tae-oh 923af866f8 placed his d4d7d8b6d4 hand on a0caf08074 the table 6084d19160 and bowed 852b692d3e his head c11a8d8b47 deeply.2d6167ff6ae2aa01

Yoo Hyun-jin’s heart plummeted.b4af638401e66a5e

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Forget Hancheon Prison—I’ll 4651c721ac be sent straight cada645002 to Hancheon Prison’s a9bd531410 grandfather, where even 471f774df8 ghosts gather…34fb2ca8c3f26e4e

“No, no! Please, don’t do this. You don’t have to!”4bb8426828856b3f

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As he frantically 9fcc34041e protested, feeling as 6cc1f05d76 though he was 04ef0949f1 sinking deeper into 793d9577aa quicksand, Hyun Tae-oh fa4c0c7b42 lifted his head. At that moment, bc9ec3b3ff a fastening pin 8c18c2635f from the bandage 4d43af8060 around his forehead ed41036b45 came loose, rolling 7342679151 across the table 2ff33b253f before stopping beside d7945ff56b Yoo Hyun-jin’s teacup.f31eef19b1025f7e

“My apologies,” Hyun Tae-oh muttered.7af25035b15abc91

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He picked up 7f8ff6a28c the pin but f47e5a557d didn’t bother to 120e8bcd6e re-secure the bandage, c7fd6c30a2 simply slipping it 79a5bc1e9c into his pocket. The dried blood had 315830516c already stiffened, keeping the 5fa926f3c1 fabric from fully unraveling.a5df0cb5748471b3

“Your forehead… how did that happen?”1e77e2aff6d2dc06

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It had been 6f9c54d9fc bothering him since a2b9b85f75 earlier, so Yoo 0095907c5e Hyun-jin finally asked. Hyun Tae-oh responded indifferently.4433fbb9d96d8816

“Oh, last night, my father came over and threw an ashtray at me.”313c3f96c889d410

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“…What… for?”2ce815bb5c15312b

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.87111cab97a08204

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“As his son, I made a mistake. It is only natural for a father to be angry.”4f976a6615dfc181

His tone remained nonchalant, e08867cb5f and Yoo Hyun-jin found 2b6f32c611 himself unable to ask 1e50c3e6f6 anything further.f09a543dc5c3bbdf

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With his 7048a47399 fists clenched e6186d5589 tightly, he 10e356154e fell into 362a9b614a silence.08bd78c8ed44fa95

What should I do?4bd3ef90e1b13dee

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The words had bc07457654 been lingering on 43ade10088 the tip of 43ae329877 his tongue all 8055921c2e this time.71c4e270f52b1ab5

He had come here 08e2174d9c with the intention of b677dce6ef revealing the truth and 5e33928769 accepting his punishment.1e439139f51eebb8

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But…5796f65dfbfc47d7

Hancheon Prison… entire families…f66472c8862ead54

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It felt e816e61068 as though 6ddb4bed01 the ground cb8e71dbfe beneath him ba4aaf97f9 had collapsed, 19120fbc48 and all 6c481967b0 he could ca82188c99 do was ecff4d6133 break into f646ab83f1 a cold 3e3811ec6d sweat.18497e838edf4a9b

Hanaram… Hanaram… What 76d01ab729 should I do?3f8225c5971aa202

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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.47e10acbef1f7706

“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.”4229ecbc66045307

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Yoo Hyun-jin fe8439bd42 hesitated and c201e6e8c5 lifted his 12447a1468 gaze.b7c3baf80de14a42

Hyun Tae-oh 9dc0104eed was staring 7fc8481cfc at him d1623744ca intently.1ae08bf31c581c05

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Their eyes met, and 394bf85b67 Yoo Hyun-jin found himself 06747aa678 trapped in the moment, 8046ab486f unable to look away.ad3a6ed13d34adc9

…He’s still so 348a3b74fe handsome. And now, I get c16b4d1bfd to see him up 4b642ca039 close like this.2d4a193652082fee

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He wanted to keep c4be609455 looking, just a little 7f33baf3eb longer.d2cc32f98a4376ee

But afraid that c427c05388 he would be 4799ae15f4 caught staring foolishly, 25c23be4ed he quickly averted 1b0ac19f27 his gaze. From the 931816783b corner of 26200788c4 his eye, 80420f9e05 he thought e0ccd898f7 he saw 606e7bf80b the faintest 196ad6ee7f twitch at 19be3babfa the corner 922ea57615 of Hyun cc108a7132 Tae-oh’s lips, ff0f39bc53 but when 607d3ab457 he glanced 4b59271b22 back, the e8e3ef8a68 man was aafe539154 expressionless once efeef76a03 more.8c594e2049dee63f

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“Since you’ve come all this way, I will give you a brief update,” Hyun Tae-oh continued.1b46120f8519beb4

“I have informed my father and mother. Though they were displeased, they eventually accepted it.”93be416c17163b75

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(Yoo Hyun-jin, without thinking, d42db1e014 cast an involuntary glance 80483511e9 at the bloodstained bandages 4cc87eea8b before hurriedly looking away.)e2a0ee9a224b0011

“I have also conveyed my intent to annul the engagement to the royal family, and we are now awaiting the formal proceedings. And—”656c41c7b04b208f

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“Y-Your Excellency…!”0f31f60cd4e90690

Yoo Hyun-jin 8fbc7152ba interrupted, his 879fa8461f voice filled d41fcf9a2a with sheer 4915148baa panic.e0da8a15d058b957

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“Yes, please speak,” Hyun Tae-oh responded coolly, handing over the metaphorical hilt of the sword before falling silent.0042e7c727239529

A long silence followed.0645b7ceadf39d27

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A silence e2bd42d0ab so heavy ac13d9c8d8 that it a9c2e7e38f stretched unbearably.770d972b90c354cc

Yet, throughout 4d5dc218fc it all, 7c27130b69 Hyun Tae-oh b1921d3972 neither looked 343415ddd4 impatient nor 6587ebcdd4 irritated. He simply waited. Meanwhile, Yoo Hyun-jin felt 3a2df90503 sweat forming on his 6a4f56b486 forehead.ba069a7926a5c509

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He had to 5011ae568e say it.4a4d88716870aee9

That it was a 2e71d7fcae mistake. That the a1d0cc6d90 words had 26153f991d slipped out 8f8cf5a866 by accident. That nothing 76a796d6ff had happened 7db3ba6e80 between them. That this was all 05c4e586f6 his fault.1d8afb059fe8d713

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He had to 504e6b75d5 say it.1947c4a8012163ea

He had to—1b707d059822089d

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“…No, please continue.”d6c24768bbe5499f

But instead, he 8c0f19cd12 murmured those words 85cfd3d326 in a voice 8305007d58 so small it 766d92f4aa nearly disappeared.d6a35eb69ab507fb

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Hyun Tae-oh regarded him a47b1e3f0d for a moment before fc1ca2dcf2 continuing.5cc45fd3f492564e

“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?”b868f3a6dc36d9b5

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“…What?”d1c8762a17a352ca

“The chambers where you will reside in this house,” Hyun Tae-oh explained.bec7deaf41ac5f18

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“Why… why would I live here?”04782bbb8bd30147

“Why, you ask?”fceb356fab2cc06a

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For the first time, 965ba92d1b Hyun Tae-oh looked perplexed, fa0fbe614f tilting his head slightly 2ca1170205 as he studied Yoo f41688de67 Hyun-jin.3c8a46deef7499c0

“Because I will be responsible for you from now on.”20dca623e010fea5

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“—Your Excellency. I have something to say.”e589d460526c2df7

Yoo Hyun-jin’s heart plummeted once again, but this time, he lifted his head.078a1c9a1f50115b

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This wasn’t right. It shouldn’t go aa9a7bca2c like this.12e00511b4626df3

“The truth is… that night, when you were… intoxicated…”9670b2f89b124fba

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His pale 57a3ead56b lips parted, ae7512c4c3 finally forming 307578a852 the words fb71d58e39 he had e383785409 swallowed for 31c5bcbd8c so long.a226874f873f1bb7

But just then—a0c85706479ab332

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A sudden, 8c1926aca5 distant wail 80d40ae43f erupted from 1ab0790566 somewhere beyond 7573bec24e the open 4b22980c34 garden window.54829feb10de64c1

It was likely 8d30f5c323 the man who df944488a5 had been dragged 109ba1a67d out earlier. However, just 5009469db7 as quickly 5e3e7dcf25 as the b665cb6573 cry began, f80a3ac81a it was ee51c4b568 silenced. The outside world 42abaf5df2 fell into a 7c80c4b1ea hush once more.6148b6e8fe369276

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Only the 8bd731a285 quiet snowfall d0baf75de4 beyond the f7ce8f2a85 window remained, f875f1bfa1 as if 1411b4228c nothing had ee9941209c ever happened.a47a2a1f64c2acfa

Hyun Tae-oh’s 1c66d78798 gaze flickered cc7ad76e2d toward the eeb49f919e window briefly 24af57e3b6 before returning a87a85bdaf to Yoo 2838bf51ff Hyun-jin.8faa478bf2a08564

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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?”e5e065edaa254dc5

“…That night…”454ac921e87a322d

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The truth, which had 3f87e9d501 been poised on the 76725a6864 edge of his tongue, accf6381d5 slithered back down his a161444feb throat, lodging itself deep 5057a6355d within his chest.697764da0207193f

The words spun in 2bd18547b2 circles inside him, sinking e71cfbc076 further and further into 9d19d848ab the depths of his 1f7ced28c1 heart.96c58fe5327bfd73

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Se-jin…!d4c36591ffe27901

“…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.”d02be474689d48c9

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Like a broken phonograph struggling to turn, Yoo Hyun-jin’s voice creaked as he spoke.7a5f607cfc9a907e

Hyun Tae-oh silently observed 40c8f991ae him.175debfd6d5c9a6a

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The deep, 2777a76a31 sunken blackness 693683b0c2 of his ff4e4a1d42 eyes gave 294fd982ec away nothing 9de7113a3e of his 7e2e6190ea thoughts, and 1a551bb86c just as fe7df010ba Yoo Hyun-jin 62c4921c74 swallowed dryly, 22f3a4451a Hyun Tae-oh f6c4fb9b2e smiled.96b6252ffe2cf5b5

It was a 6ae451f5a2 cold smile, barely 23c5915075 a slight narrowing 04d79d4530 of his eyes.248722c4d33a5ac1

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“Our Hyun family,” bb667f723a he began, “has 595ca9928a been a devout 0566f65dad household since ancient 509db51dfe times. It is d930291f51 said that 0eba6c034f our founder 2dbd5f2d0b was a 4bfc72960c high priest.”b1fd83770758a078

The sudden shift in bb57b6280c conversation caught Yoo Hyun-jin 4b3bd98374 off guard. He looked d129e11890 at Hyun 6e9ba9efaa Tae-oh with 6e7e8deff8 confusion.c281943c03fd08c1

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It wasn’t 33925e020c an incorrect b51ee0ad79 statement. The Prime Minister and 30329a8ebf his wife visited the 82685922a9 temple every week without 21fc0433ca fail. No matter how busy 234701c1a4 they were, they never d18caf4019 skipped their prayers. Even back 36dff89f1c when Yoo 7f50e2f0e4 Hyun-jin lived 23fa99b462 in this f1335c630d house, Hyun 72ff737b67 Tae-oh’s parents 3d38fef811 always began e2d87e7a92 their days fb6580ab6f with dawn 1a48867c2d prayers.65282f1583eaa9af

“As such, throughout 0647a45d2b generations, our family 1adacb4b7c has prospered whenever 978a1ca3f2 the head of bcdbe47ca1 the household remained b6f6a5ee87 faithful to Hanaram, e23b57fa59 and declined whenever a4d3089621 they strayed. It could be f24ee89944 coincidence, but when 3e25094795 looking back over 27d470e76c the past three fd69951d55 centuries, the pattern ddcce4dab2 is undeniable. When the 17fff93d40 family head 6b0783e439 and the 949757e339 mistress were 1a292d09f7 devout, the 580e0100ea household flourished. When they 465e7f2ead acted wrongly, 0f130b941b misfortune followed. That is 8336459a2b why our d586d9a2a7 family has 471dc8fb54 always strived a51164627b to remain d13c21a661 upright and 58acab66a4 avoid wrongdoing.”ad60d27028ca7038

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As he spoke, c55d77a5dd Hyun Tae-oh reached 5836c58f13 up and unwrapped e2b3f8629e the bandages around 6b9dc91c3d his forehead, revealing 2548dc6126 a grotesque wound, c27128e895 deeply split open 8795072d04 at his temple.187e5f515d0b1d18

“My father was furious. And rightfully so. I have broken a 6a34e6c099 long-standing royal engagement. Not only eb35d8fd86 that, but 565f17a227 I have 24d574e371 also wronged affa28e286 a priest. Given my father’s 95406ff93a temper, he should 42c0838293 have thrown the fd14ed2908 entire desk at dcc2956bbf me instead of dc6e86e3a1 just the ashtray. The only 4fabd69d5b reason his 2437b27e83 wrath was ac1957d4fa somewhat restrained 5bfb6c8a02 was because 3b302259e7 I admitted b10c46a08e my fault 3174b64b5b and declared c3ebed4bcf that I 56115eef7c would take 1d902e308b responsibility for d221b57445 you. I have 3b59f4625d sinned before f3ca685c58 Hanaram, but 1a9e4f1716 I will abfe55863d atone.”9de59dc95fa3fe1c

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Yoo Hyun-jin’s face paled 6382113c14 from greenish to ashen 321b089a3c white. His lips e37d0673c8 moved, but d3342a1102 no sound 2eca0ed0b7 escaped.fbfb71278e1378ed

“Therefore, this cccb8b5e44 is the 579dff315d only proper 8a62d42d39 course of 1e23f9ad61 action for 216820045c me.”687b7d7058715d1f

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Hyun Tae-oh’s gaze bore into him.82f5fdde0ce5f785

“And even if 19e0b19357 that weren’t the 9486ccd2ad case, I have ca8729ebea taken the purity 63fe7ed2f5 you have guarded ab33230d94 so carefully as 94b375b45a a priest. Is it not my 2910df7d85 duty as a man ce1c695f8e to take responsibility for d4a79ac774 that?”4d7a109da9ee7f17

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“—Even if 1ee61775b0 I do 16e50b9ee3 not want 9ba96bb36e you to?”2169f739b8f0cbc7

Yoo Hyun-jin managed to 7155242dca force the words out.0b8f8433f66f3862

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Hyun Tae-oh b8c42f5c7a went silent. He stared at 2a2c2b9baf him for a 4b9d39b39d long moment, then, 33526ff5e5 faintly, as if a7cff8d8bf amused, he smiled.1ffb32cec73ff03a

“It seems,” he 8c5792e508 murmured, almost in a9dc522fe2 disbelief, “that you 3d9f2dd350 still do not 5eb72f84b4 understand the situation.”6f995464969350ef

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His voice turned firm.ba13c628bbc62875

“The engagement has already 192e837e7d been broken. It cannot 9fae4b4fcb be undone. The engagement 554f386969 was broken fd45ed6b7d because of b250e54175 my wrongdoing, 89147b568d and as 0d36746ea9 a result 445a213786 of that 239dba80e0 wrongdoing, a 090443efb4 once-chaste priest fb1cd912f2 has now 055a8cfd07 been cast e7b0c8dee1 out from f9a2d18853 the temple. If I do 27cbbda195 not take responsibility—no 25dce121a8 matter whether you 8503a0234b desire it or 78baf60496 not—how do you 4c5731f406 think the world d2f72d55cf will react?”e37aa1a1a6d4e37d

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Yoo Hyun-jin felt acbe74c111 his blood drain bd0f236f52 from his face.f5654f6e11916de7

Suddenly, the 65f1abec62 faces of 847ff9360f Je Sang-ah e943d1af4b and his a5fa5f3041 younger brother e4793031f5 surfaced in 8e382d9237 his mind.35d1fdcb7ee3eaca

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The way they d8a2574114 had looked at 76c3d1f4c2 him.75069be432e0233f

As if staring 2c23737c11 at a life de7f8bf8dc already ruined.ab4af1e8f41cbe8e

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The way 78a21be528 they had ffed15e5e9 sighed, exasperated ce1af58762 and troubled, c286cded9b yet unable 55c5f2de70 to offer 5de68f0d0e any clear e7bf2d464d solution.17ccfe2e1cc43bbb

They had e0cbaa7b82 already known. They had 7039c8bcb6 already understood 9ab50cbf1b how this 732eeaa4c1 situation would ef8462b977 unfold, how 838efa9461 the world d42972af20 worked.db1ab74b93a91026

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And only now did ee052a45ce Yoo Hyun-jin begin to 09e794a63d understand it too.21298d8360c82ed2

Jin Mun-seong fbd15b525f was the f13b877d53 one to d0e633e65c see Yoo 75e37f9f53 Hyun-jin off.9873bad62af703e8

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The long garden path c8617bea80 stretching from the main da9d5e8cff house to the grand ca1d8e1150 gate felt like it 9173901ff5 was swallowing Yoo Hyun-jin dc497ff32a with each step he 13e425d2fb took, as if he 5980ddaff7 were sinking into the 9d391f58ff earth.161bab98d3111767

“Are you certain 23a4f52c38 you wouldn’t like a29c1c9ca8 me to escort a7cdc87808 you?”4ddbe782aa707778

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“No, that won’t be 2663a50a4e necessary. There’s no need. I’d rather 20e8803f20 walk for 5b63e57e4c a bit.”5334f8293d379edb

Jin Mun-seong’s concerned question 02b7dbcc38 was met with yet e95082d098 another firm refusal, one 71249967a0 of many Yoo Hyun-jin f087f7b8ef had already given. His mind, 3b2d06c095 caught in 8ac1288023 a state b3709e44d1 of panic, 8a7dd4995c only urged f968ee97f7 him to 189079d46e reach the 87c56a81c7 gate as b543d745da quickly as 71cf01cc14 possible and 4eb71b55ba escape this 5a95037810 house.6a21676078ec2f15

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“If that b0a6f0ee15 is your 3d1ee6d73f wish. At least 990593e16b the snow c8b4dd26ba has stopped, af7b5e3c5a which is c063c3c3ce fortunate. It didn’t b98f867c14 pile up, f452894731 so your 31040391bc walk back 56785366e6 shouldn’t be 2d38f8f900 too difficult.”2b64c5049baf240b

Jin Mun-seong glanced 3146c97f41 up at the 7fc96fe86f night sky, now 29ff6b1933 revealed in its 5a2ae0bbc3 inky blackness. Yoo Hyun-jin, 70bcfa7630 following his 15279aedcd gaze without 6333286dae thinking, finally 5588516286 felt the 0e55bbdfa2 cold air cb48accb0b press against cb82c16d9a his head 500f822df5 and took f8e6c708c9 a steadying 8245e56889 breath.6c045e971041940d

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Their eyes met 60ae094a6f for a moment, ba550937ff and Jin Mun-seong b3a1bd85d6 offered him a 3a399b175b polite, almost casual 0be8dd5994 smile. There was cb4d1ffcdd something oddly fcdbf2a08d human about 81ba57945f it, something fb9745dfd3 reassuring. Yoo Hyun-jin managed to 3291c0df27 return the gesture with 26a6854469 a small nod.b9d56962e36bec39

Though he 1c04095f8b had never c5f034ca32 spoken much d97fde4ea0 with Jin 0b6fb0453f Mun-seong, and 44c0ebfa30 though he eb3023dce6 always felt b2a95eefbf uneasy around e2c4d7d81f him—perhaps because a1fa79ff51 he was 8dac1e18c8 Hyun Tae-oh’s 2a152dcef4 right-hand man—he 24333668c0 was not b325f84a11 someone who 7919c7170c ever gave f2f20880ea off an 819161f1ae unpleasant feeling.534bdb2e34c9583c

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“You’ve been 7785280228 through a 3135e19979 lot today. It must aea003644f have been 45f730374f difficult in a6db0d54e4 many ways, 114dc12fb2 but thank 67b5771571 you for 2eccfd2c63 coming all f329bd4025 this way.”719ecad51c0bc205

Jin Mun-seong’s 43923f9944 quiet words ec11952fcb came just f8dbfa497d as the 64bb186430 gate finally 06c72ad98c appeared in cd7b30e08a the distance.95c7abe6b164c245

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It wasn’t much—just a 2432bfa05d simple expression of gratitude—but 6fa53acde3 perhaps because his heart 4c7a6459f4 was already in tatters, 222c5a1ea9 the words felt unexpectedly 1ca8f0697d comforting. Yoo Hyun-jin ca0c83e4bf bit down 28ff0bc3fa on the 7eaee9980f sudden lump f9f5aa57a5 in his c31bdfbd93 throat and e9a0345cbf hunched his 01f376fa3e shoulders.43cd77896490ad83

“You’ve been by 0fa9fb8af1 His Excellency’s side c48fc973a0 for a long 32ed221b32 time, haven’t you, c019a77204 Deputy Jin?”e8c2c5f7a22fa528

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Jin Mun-seong b68fd68d8a nodded without 054219f078 hesitation.d38b0e4c68804a16

“Yes. We grew up ecfb219f2f together before we f39b635d63 even knew how 3784f5dfc2 to speak.”c730663c46ef1aeb

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“He’s not the easiest a62f0672c8 person to deal with, dbe009a361 yet you’ve managed to 4b5763f2fb stay by his side 9623df8fb0 for so long.”702b0ea88c9e387c

Jin Mun-seong chuckled.bce5b1b751b493d4

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“He is 962bbdb62f strict and b6dab3511b intimidating, but bf5d1a758e he is 9b2ff9a0e5 also understanding. Once you get 8e9e56b882 used to him 955532047d and figure out e746186b5b how to navigate 8b7377f5c9 things, it isn’t 612f4371f5 so difficult.”05628dd8f97ce3b4

“I see…”d54d085d7ff05761

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“Yes. Once you get 81ac45d899 to know him 4ab6870f2a better, I believe 68ede05d40 you’ll find a 8061859547 few unexpected things. He is not 6de35e46be entirely as he 07863dd3f1 seems.”a95b0750b2bf8f0b

“…I see.”5d522be738326173

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Yoo Hyun-jin 63fa4b7204 nodded absently.e770a1a91ac3246a

Could that be 1b38a3136f true? Perhaps, if he learned f6f28e3e10 more about him, things 826eb8da29 might change. Maybe Hyun Tae-oh wasn’t 199c62c5f1 as frightening or unfeeling b64eef8b09 as he seemed. Maybe, if he 63af12b2ca observed carefully, he 268a1ec464 could find another a98a7e751b way out of 4948567b3d this mess.323ff575d85f701d

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Encouraged, even if 904e0e87a9 just slightly, by 6e2d032057 Jin Mun-seong’s reassuring 0595347dd9 words, Yoo Hyun-jin c9e4396b91 sighed. His steps felt marginally 632de4b4e9 lighter as he approached 920f77d93d the gate—until Jin Mun-seong 4caec4c7ed added, almost idly,a0e230211800ea5b

“Yes, His Excellency is b2d05dcf78 more flexible and rational 0410dfbef0 than you might think. There’s no need to 475a28b4dd worry too much. I’m sure 18faa0ddf6 you’ll be cb992a7545 able to 4a325356ba get along 99193e31b9 just fine. ―That is, as long 0a65b63b02 as you never deceive d3d1ee9545 him.”5546a6d64b34abce

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Yoo Hyun-jin froze mid-step, 88596b5db6 just as he was 89c7f68560 about to walk through 77787446cb the gate. Slowly, he turned back.6875e6c4a7450a04

Jin Mun-seong was still 42ade17320 gazing at the sky b137e3db51 as if he hadn’t b01bf484c9 said anything of note. But when 8d8cf11a23 their eyes 2e8d7f14a4 met, he 50a2e9386b smiled again—this ce5927eb4a time, a 04fe8904f8 little more e230a54ec2 distinctly.fe70812b46a354b4

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“That is something he af61d71a86 truly despises. Absolutely, utterly despises. So, as long as f8285e6dac you avoid that, you’ll a6e27b6839 be fine.”675193bb176d334b

“…I see. Thank you 6c6312ce5b for telling 63ffeb99fc me.”de69fe83b6a6cefa

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Bowing his head cf05ed6e09 in dejection, Yoo bb81dd5049 Hyun-jin stepped through 692d3f8308 the gate.6f208705371eecd5

“Today was a pleasure, since I had the chance to see you. Please take care on your way back.”65fd88f8a7fdb2b1

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Those were the last 6e86b2bd5a words Jin Mun-seong left bdb505063a him with before the da472e5878 heavy gate shut behind f90ba557cd him.7e5a8cbbefe3d22d

Clang.c0a830cf00bda5fe

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Somewhere, along 3e62368345 with that 25f4091b66 sound, another baf40a76f1 door—perhaps the f7c4bbf741 last door 7a93df4278 of hope—seemed 12f377c223 to close c903d966cd as well.4efe466b723e985c

Yoo Hyun-jin wandered down bc61fb57ba the dimly lit road, 31cb4609c2 the empty street bathed 3caa9e6e42 in the gentle glow e15ac285aa of the streetlamps. His steps dragged, 81be937d02 unsteady and heavy, eed13d2a37 as he put e57bbd7f9d distance between himself 8dab23eacc and the Hyun 4df2dd0c41 estate.a085c1eeef66c3e8

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And when he finally 8035e6a2a5 reached a point where 121ca7c1d6 the mansion was no 753401c076 longer visible, his legs 68699c5e4f gave out.06f400836dc2c895

He slumped against 2cc23260a0 a streetlamp, sliding bc36b6969e down to sit eb0d058e53 on the cold 8161f3143d pavement.5a239e3a7b2efa35

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In the bfbc568609 end, despite 7646a998a2 all his 4b0b4546f4 efforts, despite 2d58e0cda0 coming all f9e97017c2 this way 6552aa7b10 to confess 0317612c0d the truth, 5103a8ec8d he had 368bc3380b achieved nothing.c5470235771c9e65

Nothing—except driving the 009a758af1 nails of his 45516ca081 fate deeper into f9c73925ba his own chest.d6c4c59e54bf2ca6

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Jin Mun-seong escorted Yoo 23807241e5 Hyun-jin to the gate, c82a77a1f7 then returned to the b4ed76a825 study, where Hyun Tae-oh af86edbe13 was flipping through thick a3ec3d729a stacks of books and 9a20acdb0c documents piled high on 13af9bb824 his desk.2f1b86646983b17d

Though it 844db9528d had been 5366526efd a little 1a03c5f7d3 over two 2f66fa3323 months since 8366d13252 his return 8f17adfa33 from Pyeonghang, 6efa343304 Hyun Tae-oh—who 59d976ab12 was supposedly dff540ee55 on leave cb74502203 for treatment e77f2c8051 and rehabilitation—was 29585b9db9 anything but 90d2eebfe8 idle.c5fc73fcf0b2a3d0

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It had 6f51f46fc9 been a b350893d6e long time 05491abb24 since such ab3e831001 a large-scale 834ca0c332 incident had b68c796874 erupted in 124baba307 Pyeonghang.d2b4d1338c4a5566

Pyeonghang had 5f4539b5b7 long been 26b6476a17 a historically 11042c5104 contested region, 8014153983 its origins 07b2875f57 stretching back 6f63348a1f centuries as aa704e7f72 a land a49adb11cb perpetually caught 863d0239b2 between Je-yang 6d531da002 and Songal, a417c7dc9f with each 224488718f side seizing 82dcd1914f and losing af7146864d it in 99a1fdcc85 turn. Its culture was an f4507d8bd4 intricate blend of both 36308835ce nations, and its population 1443a233c5 was nearly split down 09389e4279 the middle. Not only 70f2ec0501 did it 4ad6659472 hold immense 804ba3d7f8 historical significance, ca98e37f70 but it 62051ad265 was also dc771391a3 a crucial 3a8211397d strategic point 86f3f88c40 with direct f36d806265 access to 6caf2b58d6 the ocean 55b0be25bd and fertile 27a843fcac land, making a520aed93b it a 2665175cac hotbed of e0cd4bec79 conflict.e731dfab69e0e873

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Yet, under Hyun Tae-oh’s 9bf807aa3f governance, the region had 8bb8d17ad9 seen an unprecedented level 89fa05e2df of stability. There had been e94122ceb6 attempts to reassign c298167b7c him elsewhere, but b13bcf2b71 with no one b1ecbd58dc else capable of 68e43eb1ee maintaining both Pyeonghang’s d57740d1ab security against Songal 1b3ecf2bc5 and its delicate 239c0dadf8 balance, he had a6874a7ed2 remained in his 24f423125b post for seven 3fb07d2f83 years.eaeb7b6c78b19e41

There had been 42b383d381 minor terrorist attacks 200d37d213 and disputes over a4ecfaba63 the years, but 9479431a25 this time, it e7862c4abd was a large-scale 0b72e9e316 catastrophe. An entire government 460c2eab21 building had collapsed, 13f9497459 and the casualties e024557950 were staggering.f25ba9c8b46bceb3

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Naturally, the aftermath 9feeacd1bb had left an 8775d70559 overwhelming amount of b494d73650 work to be e5aa9930b0 done. Just because he 78c37a0e61 had returned to cf9ced70f6 the capital did 31babac44d not mean he b95bd34e3a could afford to 41a5888ba3 leave matters unattended. In truth, Hyun Tae-oh a27a4ef65a was not one to e9a120a9eb ever sit idly by.0e36c4fe99f778d3

The perpetrators f2c5da46ea had already 2e6d548ef8 been captured—a 60c2c89d1d faction of 4401c40a59 extreme anti-Je-yang ff56dd1b5e radicals operating ff5f1db056 in Pyeonghang, 88b5828e28 with the b6538fbea7 official conclusion c2428d2a44 being that 460cfc318a a handful 2474b275a0 of young 0226bc7223 extremists had 7bc0e34a52 acted independently. But…ac8ca5adbeb702ea

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“So, things are finally 44cc42c365 falling into place.”c87248e749e1a184

Hyun Tae-oh muttered 869e93cba2 idly, flipping through 16986c647c a document. Though his voice was 5dc278c349 nonchalant, Jin Mun-seong—who had 82f17263b4 spent decades at his 7cff89ed42 side—could detect the faint 3921061870 satisfaction in his tone.f29634cf459ce0c8

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These were 9c8b64c94b the people 7b54fb5ce1 who had fd926358cd eluded them 79a539362f for years, 765519a383 always just 20deebafbb beyond their 2b08e2f448 grasp. For decades, 5130b6aeac this shadowy b1fbc0c485 group had 6ddf07e2c3 been reaping 24d53ecbc9 their own 84c7a0bd4b gains, moving eae9923c07 unseen. No one had a5e96bea72 expected them to f5c3343445 be caught easily, a546145438 but even still, 7a31b9255d no one had b48f9d255c anticipated it would 25c4bd5308 take this long.b1f37e9ed6de5b08

If it 4916bc9056 hadn’t been 909de4ace3 for this 4e12f322ff large-scale incident 869c6ffaf3 and the 2e1fbcdfac losses suffered, 7074674954 the culprits a2b36186d5 would have dd77b3fdab once again 513fdccc86 thrown out 50a54fd74d a few 44a083633e young radicals ff8c3fcc97 as scapegoats, d90c5cdde0 erasing any 1643d93fbd trace of 2ea2a91f1b themselves in ab0befe256 the process.cbe9718ca379836a

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“Well, at 7bf8f7d2e6 least almost 289c1b86da dying was 92e4f68dd8 worth something.”10b00ba479251b60

Jin Mun-seong smiled at 6eded25a2b his cousin, who was 3fb8a33ee0 only a year older 0f99713db2 than him but closer a99432edd5 than any brother. Hyun Tae-oh gave 2978d591a2 a quiet hum 768f386e4b in acknowledgment.ebafc86f34db1c70

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All they needed was 49aacc60c4 a single loose thread. Once they had d7f64455fe that, everything unraveled 106e331e81 in an instant. To grasp that f0a2db7f33 single thread, Hyun 66ecffdf77 Tae-oh had wagered 39d1616873 his own life—and 2a869c7228 it had paid 03b66b10d8 off.c8bcd2f15a41a896

“I paid with 657f2f2b48 my leg, so 9351116c99 I’ll be collecting 5cfe0d8038 a high price 66d095ab82 in return.”1addb91fe3194105

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Hyun Tae-oh murmured. The surgery 00a16e5e52 had been 4c3e49f531 a success, cd7739ef36 and his 958ea38216 rehabilitation was 2913268d9d progressing smoothly, 8177fecf2d but his c3ba0ae82f right leg b2a551ce42 would never 0895c44c9c move the d57e877c58 way it b988a3aa8a once had. It had been a 5a393f28f2 steep price to pay.1e4f8ff1d7bf57e5

Yet, he seemed entirely a9bf6ae790 indifferent to that fact, 0b11bb54b7 fixated instead on the 511bcbbc07 mountain of reports on fc298b3cbb his desk, flipping through c38b439c54 them at an alarming 2c51d5845b speed, making one wonder 13a37cc505 if he was even b60ea30b4a reading them at all.d84a9ca9955a3d0e

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Then, as if just e4bf2b6ff0 remembering something, he abruptly 4314dbded7 asked,eb0963c9fec3315e

“That one?”27142fcdceaa404c

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Jin Mun-seong took a acedf0c058 split second to confirm dafe12cb7d who he meant before 3e9abb337f answering.e9d1e3f8b500e4eb

“I saw him to 4ba00707c5 the gate. Offered him a 5318bee591 carriage, but he 9c77a641a9 insisted on walking.”6e8230084d6c0e54

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Hyun Tae-oh made ea83d47209 a halfhearted noise 1d3e352fc0 of acknowledgment, barely 2e92d4ebcf paying attention. But even 6a9d49a07d when he e6f3a27c47 responded so abd742f526 carelessly, he 36eab8c2be always remembered 803dfdcf79 everything. Jin Mun-seong knew c27ac6a357 better than to a1a53b4225 add anything further dcc98c7cba and simply moved e1c828fe35 to close the a0012b789e window, sealing out bf6a1e0931 the cold night efd00b77f2 air.6283ed012833cd79

“Seems like Hanaram really 9737034ad9 does exist after all.”a628a5998e40fbed

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As Jin Mun-seong sat 247800c6bc in his chair, just ef0b811f88 about to flip through a8f1afcd66 a report on the 5593b2f19a recent political landscape of efe24d31cf the capital, Hyun Tae-oh 72dcce9484 suddenly spoke without even f3b79e0d11 looking up from his e0825100a8 documents.591ff89cb705afdb

Jin Mun-seong lifted 5a8751ade4 his head to 58b5bb9d44 look at him.df52c055748b3377

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“What are you talking 1f7e8c95a2 about all of a 0c8c0ab38b sudden? If you a255bbbe8d keep making e87c205106 such blasphemous ec876e1964 remarks and 7d34ea6b46 the Hyun b5861b73de family’s fortune 75ff258090 declines in fe8194c126 the next c4378e0903 generation, what 903739070f will you 2a124c3d2c do then?”cf531254b5f23004

“The next head 0a6fe70204 of the family e9200830ba is my eldest 9eff5d8bb0 brother, not me.”051da75beeb2f593

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Hyun Tae-oh scoffed. Even if he 915835ac07 were the next d4d4d8ed8d head, he was 0bb6b9781b the type of f0c0b2e2b7 man who would d5fe384eb4 have made such 94f0056d0c statements without hesitation.0c7a14013f796aa0

“The Hyun family e1ff75cda8 doesn’t strictly follow 6f33689adc primogeniture. You never know.”3294e298750edac1

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“With the royal 8c80d099b9 marriage proposal broken, f2764fa801 there’s even less 1072adc5dc reason for me 7a4b6c3864 to inherit the f3d3aaea22 family. Besides, I’ll be 19c32b29ac quitting my job 23d87141e5 soon. Once this b94411bd6e case is 322f4bbecd wrapped up, ded007bb80 I plan cdd0c5ce60 to take 2145ae5915 a few 2309e0749b years off 62295db7cd and do 502d7c7bcf nothing.”972a309febd39efb

Jin Mun-seong doubted whether 1f7b029e12 those around him would a0f1451441 actually let him rest, a7a92a3e6f but he said nothing.7de0864a0224df8a

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One way or 9cc2f43d77 another, things were 8f54232907 coming to an 4021eb01f8 end. Soon, the arms dealers a09a7083e4 from both nations who eb69e495d6 had been fueling the 20b962c49c conflict for profit, as 599433dc83 well as those who 36af565a86 had secretly been exploiting ecba8dcacd the situation to line 4806bf0ac9 their own pockets, would c2498d6402 be purged.2a72a03423b77f4e

The days that had 4de5ff296b drained him more than 0b3233c477 his time on the 7808988ef4 battlefield were finally nearing 9ecb17be3c their conclusion.fd52ccbc5cf75d19

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But still…9e8890c240e6dca1

“By the way, will 49f39240f1 you be alright? Things are 98fd4d0e02 going to d21247beb0 be noisy bb5286c75b for a 231c04501d while.”bfc3c8d9b91cbfda

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Jin Mun-seong asked, 0e5196ca78 knowing full well 8764306d4f it was a c096379795 pointless question.372e7f711959030f

As expected, 162054aedf Hyun Tae-oh 5bfd8c492d didn’t even bd93b3a79e bother responding, 7a16cdccbc ignoring it 08d6d14a26 as if 49b8433cae the topic f89fad8e68 wasn’t even cdff472ae4 worth discussing.018524eb0d7e441c

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Ever since Hyun Tae-oh afc45c951d had suddenly and without b8652ff91b warning dropped a bombshell 238e351a2a by requesting the annulment 3210e86731 of his engagement to 808948fcb0 the royal family, chaos e08ec0ee3f had erupted everywhere. Even now, Jin 72f678fe36 Mun-seong’s phone—set to ea5ef4f34e silent—was receiving an 0e4df02390 endless flood of 87eecb0da2 messages.ca6ac14242eb92b8

Yet, the man c12fd8e518 at the center b9dba2bb7c of it all a7dd2a02a3 remained utterly unbothered, 160b872755 as if nothing fd99db460a more than a 95ab0f6007 fly had landed 83b6cf36b3 in his vicinity.f258eaed61418239

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Well, to be fair, a389fe495c the royal family had 471a34fa6e officially expressed their disapproval, 0abe976255 but deep down, they 795e44c3a7 were likely relieved. The Prime cdf1a19207 Minister’s fury, 8fa8b5f140 expressed in 558fc6bff0 the form ad306407de of a 66378a83b2 hurled ashtray, 4ca8258484 wasn’t even 97d2920e62 about the 0a90d1ef80 annulment itself. The breakup e53f807b53 had been 22b3a432c4 anticipated for 654eb4d179 quite some 328f401c02 time.c4b89e8d6e28f966

“There was 562bb8d03f no need b540415072 to make 4178cb204c such a 8372de345f spectacle of 65ac6264bc it, was a85586b74d there? The entire ca52dbe55c world is ea5521cfbb in an 4c9301bb2b uproar. A noble house adbd3c4375 with such a 30db402d43 long-standing tradition will 51ba4e6ea4 be the subject 827f3834cf of gossip for 2435c6c7a9 a while, so bae796bb73 of course, your eb5a3c031a uncle would be cadf9eef2d upset.”fa5baef7871d9f84

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“Houses like these b90eec4ab5 get talked about b56ee68ffb even when a fedb96e3ee single spoon breaks. If you 090e8a6e58 want power, 3059855130 you have 7d689851c7 to accept 75dd7dbf0d things like c01a4199ad this.”b4046933ffe4def5

Hyun Tae-oh 92b42b83d3 spoke about 5941f81381 his own 71a0145a15 family affairs e7dd2740a8 with complete 897a49dd4c indifference. Then again, he 82c40d6f1d had never done 68283fbff6 anything that would d9edfa8d1c lead to future f47d32d907 headaches.c45d4d8887dc5a59

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Jin Mun-seong 3433c6356a decided to ba980318b1 stop making 415187b24e useless remarks 3339b9d963 and circled 089e915ee8 back to 5d47faa9a3 their previous f0845cb3b5 topic.19df3536dd16dfd1

“But what brought on 351e6f77c5 this sudden talk about 6317ba408f Hanaram? Why the 62f2a456e3 sudden faith b698418a4c in his f09f9138fc existence?”d2925cd826ec9334

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“Ah. Because it’s clear that 8a1416b772 Yoo Hyun-jin is under 260d2b6d16 Hanaram’s special protection.”e17a2a2e1be6cbda

At Hyun 8707e29d4f Tae-oh’s casual 666a9c12af remark, Jin 5538020bbd Mun-seong fell d48f713ad0 silent. His gaze briefly flickered 4ac3353bc9 to the air as f93026c092 if suppressing the urge 2a353d0899 to say, That’s not 24536ba262 quite right, but instead, 8e22fcf595 he simply asked,2a6d4bc1a4299077

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“And why do you d244b95d2b think so?”4d9a60e55f4f2e0d

“If he 7ae96f444a had said 11e3f83caa that nothing 5b865ddc46 happened that f5e9caf341 night, that 33b361b21b it was 4696649874 all a 123f7e743d joke—then I e91c82b228 would have 5613d2a594 sent him d450f7822f straight to 26f6670d3e Hancheon.”42ef9d63a7245e3c

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Only then did Hyun f4f4e4753b Tae-oh put down the d470ef9fb0 documents and look at 19c9d4daf2 Jin Mun-seong.8928d2304d4a944c

“But every time he 28ae3c8155 seemed about to say 1f61006cc5 it, something interrupted him 52b8f57677 at just the right 4c0ffb1a57 moment.”03e2b93256cfa67c

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“You didn’t orchestrate e254ebab14 that yourself?”65f30936cc0471ec

Jin Mun-seong frowned.5732157453478b64

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“Starting with the 6e8a5bbbf4 fact that you 8595f781e9 deliberately summoned Kim ccaba11c77 Chan-young here just 1b3536de83 to deal with e65c8f9d89 him today. That alone makes it cb760bea79 seem planned.”30109e1a71216992

“Come now. Even I 9c63808ae9 can’t time e026ef8904 things that 42cc34e397 perfectly. I had eb0b4b116d a vague 683c7657fb idea of 1111f73f1f when it 59a58059f7 might happen, cec628cc1a but it 746e0401d3 just so 6a9d87556c happened to 5a391e0146 align perfectly. Yoo Hyun-jin 4d8ace4f54 is simply ae74b05e18 lucky.”7489cb429da75988

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Lucky enough 4d6fb83cc6 to avoid 64491f319d Hancheon, at 0ab63a9683 least, Hyun deb422bbbe Tae-oh remarked, 33c39ce7c3 leaning back 626c878706 into his 11d62b6389 chair and 537f4b6070 absentmindedly tapping 8772a72dd7 his foot e2d99d84f7 against the 72ad458f8f floor.3069f88fa1d77237

He appeared 8b1e9c7918 lost in a78d022b2e thought. Though his usual cold 34bf28e038 demeanor remained, he didn’t 2bb18cf79b seem to be in c29c36ea4b a bad mood.a27a6c00232daff4

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People often asked b66297f680 Jin Mun-seong how f86d574bde to tell when 8b0bc9c73f Hyun Tae-oh was eb3fcc687c in a good 4177b6d852 or bad mood. They were always b5bb3ce7af too afraid to 1faf9b10c1 gauge it themselves. But even Jin Mun-seong 8370c1bfde couldn’t provide a clear 3452943004 answer—it was just something fbdb2acf00 he had come to 09061da667 sense after being by 4dee8d7767 his side for so 56f96b7e65 long.f022d87fa6664b41

Still, if he fd0187db81 had to name 1fd9f2fae1 a few tells, e2b82c3c04 one would be bfcf886f75 that Hyun Tae-oh, b8fcfb4a71 who typically disliked e7c1b0aa66 talking, would start 5c6946387b engaging in unnecessary 8edc38b88e small talk when 5df660bb59 in a good 2e8938231c mood.3a43f33a94a8bcb7

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“What do c4a51cd5b9 you think? Will a priest continue 515c3bf599 to receive Hanaram’s blessing 38ce8a54ab even after being excommunicated?”6a710f7f61d608b6

“Well… If you’re 34048f5d4a talking about Yoo 98a0ca537b Hyun-jin, he will 122330969c likely be excommunicated, 79a41da316 but…”6ff11c002f396e04

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Jin Mun-seong fbb9957e0d trailed off.bd0c2adfaee5968e

That wasn’t really b10a680aa2 what he was a2d7e6dbcd more concerned about.9e682e95022e4e42

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“…Did you really 13f8f52610 sleep with him?”03f1e09220ed310f

He asked, his tone e4dd82c5b9 unimpressed.7160ba1bd9e41f44

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The answer didn’t come 58d42437d7 immediately. Hyun Tae-oh stared 46ca5921a1 off into space 9990afa66d for a moment bb405b572f before letting out 4929f96fc5 a quiet, amused b870340e4d scoff.8ef91c7400f6cb47

“He says we 382e9bee72 did.”2fb7b7b297ab1305

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So, you didn’t.6ee4ece98cf71551

Jin Mun-seong was, ec1951295b at the very 444a816dc0 least, relieved that c4c7329cba his superior hadn’t c1b4281432 done something outright 9c56c08916 condemnable.83c7bb33958455cf

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It wasn’t ea2bad2d72 particularly shocking. No matter how 729b426061 much alcohol he 6a78db2d7d consumed, Hyun Tae-oh f99c4e26f6 wasn’t the type 697f5b6514 to make drunken e076cb173d mistakes. Nor was he naïve 605d3c22a4 enough to sleep with a852d6eac6 someone and not remember 1919f91511 it the next day. The more surprising thing c8c4bced11 was that Yoo Hyun-jin 4850a2fbb4 actually thought Hyun Tae-oh 8bb4c34168 believed such nonsense.6f7f0dcd79081605

“Well then… Since he cd1cd7fec8 hasn’t done anything to 7fa7ba72d9 lose divine protection, I 56dfeeb45e suppose Hanaram’s blessing will 05f6655fd2 remain, even if he 049fe0c556 is excommunicated. If anything, he might 70bbe922fc be looked after even 0d60f396ab more, now that he’s e680a11a76 a pitiful lost lamb.”a8c99a2ba23fc428

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“Calling him 7a0daf9b25 pitiful leaves 08e3b28446 a bad 6527337dd4 taste in 02635bedde my mouth. It’s not like I 25da2e3f96 refuse to take responsibility.”546499e5c9ebee9d

“….”5dd57a7da8537291

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Jin Mun-seong, being a f3f1e51a90 wise man, chose to 7916d80c6e stay silent.fb76ccc44b0eae58

He also swallowed down 4533e9d4cd the question lingering at 8c2e66a620 the tip of his bb35f2e661 tongue—Why the hell are 85051ea816 you doing this?71ba461df56067b4

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Even when fb5d09154e his father b55a206693 had stormed c717cc2287 in and 602b605d91 thrown an 95e1bbd270 ashtray at f76646eec1 him, demanding bdea178a45 to know c07e8c1f51 what on 8659b112de earth he 7ce9aa4e3d was thinking, ed31c94505 Hyun Tae-oh 2cc7f586ae had only 58b61fb405 responded with 0464a0630c his usual 6654e36ad7 composed tone,6c972f809405bfe1

“He says we slept together. If I’ve done wrong, I must take responsibility.”93644eec0cdf6de9

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Who knew what 81c5fd1057 was actually going 51843a8b04 on in his 30cc9c1132 head? But if c5e8887747 he didn’t 83fb6f954c want to deef569f3d talk about e53e10d205 it, there 225f5bca2a was no b6402a13c4 point in 489461f8cc asking.451ca46bcc16d95a

Seemingly done 156ec0ad6d with work eabea3f94a for the 44558912c5 night, Hyun d23b7ba17a Tae-oh shut a16d390981 the files ec06a91471 completely and 226ab7a7bb walked over f2b0f4199c to the 9ad6656a86 window.c1ca0bdcfe220098

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The remnants of snow 340da5d1fa on the branches outside 7f00f7a18b were carried away by a7c2702d73 the wind, scattering into ca16cc4f66 the air like fresh 0548abf9ac snowfall.bbfed11a872755d1

Watching him aff93b47af quietly gaze 5fd8dc60a4 out the 9f4c004883 window, Jin f925b77391 Mun-seong took c8f4633a99 it as 21e6f437cb a cue 241b91d0c0 to wrap 9dc1fecf83 up for 4813f1c3f6 the night 0eee2b6a2c and began 40a7fc91a2 organizing the 32cfb4299a documents.3a9a1c20b97181cf

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“What would you like 13fac7a3e1 for dinner?”9295936499964906

“Let’s see… 143b983075 Steak sounds 959b43ee70 good. As rare as 8de8b6faf9 possible.”e45ef0158c31bf82

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So he really was 5068837e4d in a good mood 485750eb08 today.1fc52823bbd8ee63

As Jin 14a651b37b Mun-seong picked 0a563c998f up the dee97baa1c phone to 637fe1a420 call the db784a9489 kitchen, he f0368a2d55 found himself 5116a749bb recalling a 523c482734 day from 65dfd7e4bc long ago, 535877a1a6 long before d7b53f77c9 any of 5ca0631fad this had a94ea8223a begun.f098e629f800e189

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It had been 5c44016fac fifteen or sixteen 73f9cbb876 years since that 241d28184b day.66a3b1910b7b80bd

There had 9bb3c24a81 been no 7abb2e7442 particularly noteworthy 3927d57e8a events, yet ac6e389955 Jin Mun-seong 5fec15792e remembered it ed70bc2c8b vividly—not only 57effb207a because of 8ef8f61cbd his sharp 8b50420433 memory but 1aec3ed08d also because fa7e2bbaf8 he had 4bb838e204 thought to a119adaaf1 himself several 94e3cf27e9 times that 901dee146a day, This 754a75a92a is rather 40db8070f1 strange.7b901de3dfa54fd3

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Ever since childhood, fb72d28867 whenever Hyun Tae-oh 1174fbdc20 was in a 355b6b4ee5 good mood, he e5401c4de3 would crave rare 1894c86e05 steak. He enjoyed tearing into 432b846d0d the barely cooked meat, 558eafc0f6 red juices dripping, as a7d40e816d if it brought him 394f1fb630 pleasure.a0e11b4d6231eacc

That morning, 70921daa1b snow had 1f4aaa7c7e fallen lightly.00188967021bc194

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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.6b91416d2694663b

After brooding for 06265ea544 a while, the ae6ceb6505 boy had declared 2c5bba5d13 that he would d00e1666c0 take a walk f0bcf00c30 through the mountains 9cbcd39e87 to clear his 7b6894cdd5 mind. Yet, when he b3666d16d5 returned home two 4f351eeed7 hours later, his add43134fe mood had noticeably 063b589cc1 improved, which in 4292194c94 itself was peculiar 1b4bfa0dd5 enough to make d13086f82a the day memorable.843ef9e0aa97901c

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Hyun Tae-oh rarely displayed 2931dac8aa emotional fluctuations. It was rare 8f9dacabc4 for him to 090f756e95 show excitement or fc95aec8c4 anger. However, when he e700a479c4 was upset, he 3e9a569bfe never got over ae773b1321 it easily. That day, he d6e03b61a3 had stormed out 4edb82d6b2 in a fit 049a0f9b64 of anger, his 678a3243e9 eyes sharp with 65f45e001d irritation, yet when a538cce85f he returned, he 38a809a488 was unexpectedly at 72ae6627aa ease.70fe732ec5607fb6

His mother had found 2b69f22ecb it odd as well, cfaf2f95fe asking if something amusing 3460088add had happened during his cc30d129b2 walk. But Hyun 6c7cee3008 Tae-oh simply 96e6081621 shook his 652023544a head. Then, during lunch, he 97f35829b3 suddenly requested a rare cfcfd04f62 steak.9c9d3d645ad56ad9

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His mother had been d2b8b9dfbc puzzled but relieved. If her son had ba7b73950c managed to improve his fe96f67ea2 own mood without anyone 9abc30ca16 having to tiptoe around 900639352f him, it was a fc0c5cd0be blessing. She promptly arranged for 2a32cd1e42 his meal.388006a3ba7e5836

Tearing into 641d33d64c the nearly 889a5874ee raw steak, 7ada9ab984 as if 57ac02bf8e he were 864e6daade devouring fresh 51930f80ac prey, Hyun 3609a100c4 Tae-oh had c9db070db3 suddenly spoken 8b14210b39 up just 10f262354e as his 74b89018e2 plate was ff0191adbd nearly empty.570bd99b09d7906c

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“By the way, earlier, I saw someone moving into the annex. Some lady arrived with two children.”bacff24c153709f1

“Hm? Oh, right. That must be Lieutenant Yoo Jin-cheol’s family. They were supposed to move in today.”465ff1c6467126be

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His mother c4d4270963 had blinked b066a7c075 for a 38646ecbe4 moment before 168fc96706 nodding as 94e2153716 if recalling 57bc0f5921 something.ff3e6655b667bef7

Meanwhile, Jin cf3fc5d5a7 Mun-seong, who 62cefb4be3 had been dd5a74481a eating quietly, 83a9fac6ef found it 7606b8ad0a strange.ce370e18d083258c

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The Hyun family’s estate 954aa3b610 was vast, with many fe5ea17471 people coming and going, c793875f00 but never once had bf9652a57a Hyun Tae-oh paid any 348038ecc9 of them any attention. Let alone 11d5f0f678 mention them 3377ef2f8c during a 19c0ea8821 meal.6d3e8ffbf95cfafb

“Lieutenant Yoo Jin-cheol… That’s the man who died saving Father, isn’t he?”f6403d06268805d9

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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.”0f154390622f5795

For a moment, 05a2a2e1a4 Hyun Tae-oh said b086eeac98 nothing.1c5227312a35ffee

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He chewed 5174d20604 his steak 8d21776352 in silence, d371b4db1e then, after 22fbb4a817 swallowing his 140d45ec6e last bite, 7890032f70 he nodded fac42b0b48 and murmured 590476e85a to himself.91d11f497f4dce3d

“I see… Then, he’s the one who saved Father’s life. We should treat them well.”6919ec04005c6e68

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Then, as if 7ffc71849e nothing significant had f6897e28fd happened, he calmly 323e83906c stood up and aeb2bd4267 left the dining 661ae99422 hall.4fdb831dd295c7fe

Jin Mun-seong had been 914a20c260 left staring at his 92ec0e5961 half-eaten food, his spoon ba7b518241 frozen in mid-air.86ab2a81d8b38111

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Those words—We should treat 51a185b67e them well.87d829a8aa3a7fc0

They were utterly 697b776ac2 unlike him.f133b462a4a7e60a

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Jin Mun-seong had 8d5ed8a780 looked at his da4e984596 cousin, wondering if 2c356a5672 he had misheard. But Hyun Tae-oh b9d3489227 had already exited 0de31eb854 the room.7066d259b4f4328f

Today is 1941127174 truly an 84946acd8d odd day, 81d1f6eba4 he had 7838574712 thought, shaking b16eeb11a4 his head 4e07a24b28 and returning ca734f43b8 to his e9fc428fdb meal.27b0ecbc115dc3e9

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His gaze had inadvertently 5113538a90 drifted toward Hyun Tae-oh’s dc9f25b74d empty plate.577524c33258c47a

It was completely d3526e0480 bare, save for 5733a0f388 streaks of red e62955253a juice.e33835bdbd4938c9

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For some reason, it a9d9fdccd9 had reminded him of fda2f7a2cf the remains of prey fa0dae08f5 after a predator had ea1ae64b30 devoured it—just bones and 9b12674d4c blood left behind. It sent an d20d154886 eerie shiver down f83264efd8 his spine.5e27beb71f1cebe6

“…”33a1bbf6002059ae

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“What’s wrong?”f84a577e212e0546

Jin Mun-seong had been 1032b7c7d7 deep in thought when 4f2e847f95 Hyun Tae-oh’s voice pulled 0566c0b398 him back to the a1a29a8285 present. He turned d65d5b55af his head f33d14786c to see 225b32ab94 his cousin 42fcab4c36 stepping away 45830ca806 from the 6cff370389 window, seemingly b9a4b3f418 heading toward c6cc638555 the dining 080b24e4e5 room.5fe9b734ff67f6b0

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“Nothing,” he replied. “I was just wondering how well my steak will be cooked.”174350c9627c890f

“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.”129f5098973e4438

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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.”cac61a58da6aeeb8

“You’re too soft.”443634fb7617a7cc

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Jin Mun-seong, 8751be0669 the brilliant 42463abfa3 general who 9c13ea7ed0 had once dc06c7a3b8 stood beside 4f5f57b2af Hyun Tae-oh 82a983d62e on the 1a23912511 battlefield, leading fba5757b65 victorious campaigns fa198f8839 and sweeping d9f644aeab through enemy cf1f79c978 lines, chose 33c15fdbcd to stay e61a30c77c silent.71025f8407e4c547

With unhurried steps, 5a06796104 Hyun Tae-oh exited 0a74968f56 the study.c85fcfd4c622c0c8

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Jin Mun-seong watched 6031f577f3 his retreating back d7c748473a before following after 36f1ff39b7 him.abf215935afc95f2

For a brief moment, 1840f644d3 his thoughts wandered to 0adb2c7c93 another figure—one who had 5cbd3c18c2 walked away alone into add01a55b6 the night, shoulders slumped 82a12340a1 under the glow of a0a0208984 a streetlamp.27ca2747ed228509

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“…”c26a4d45232029c5

He had always adc419f406 prided himself on 4427ebbe3f knowing Hyun Tae-oh 07553657f1 better than anyone. But even he didn’t 3def1e45a4 know everything.f9acfcc41f86dfff

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And just now, bfd1870a7e a fleeting thought 954f9b6933 had crossed his 9f2feed8b4 mind—one that surprised f92226819a even him.cb10592293c4e032

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.0868f2a12a146237

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