BYBM Chapter 5 (Part 3)

Like an alcoholic 4e4efdf5af who’d broken sobriety, 6a7366b940 he came back 0e09ca2321 even more frequently b7bb2ccefe than before.4a57e516e73698ce

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He never stayed 3d901149f5 long, but he 042113f2f7 always stopped by eda5a5016f late at night d8fa305ed2 for at least 76a875c9fa a cup of 4aaaa36d75 tea.8d3d88e311ea6164

Even yesterday, that cold, a9ad22d24c unwelcoming bastard had drunk c09a44f695 the tea he made 6e1ebb5f17 without protest. Watching that, f48e59982f he felt f9c16025a7 a bit 59564ff65f mischievous.85239da9949cdd10

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“My mother 55822fbf54 sends her 73d789ec9d regards. She said 3d62df0980 you should 1a8188e182 come visit 03769b80b3 the estate 95eff2414e sometime.”bc6e1b938e182779

The moment 00c9b70810 he said fca1d7917b it, Yoo 0a90898fd3 Hyun-jin tensed. Seeing that subtle anxiety c723440133 replace his usual chilly 4c8557d4aa expression, Hyun Tae-oh felt 1eb5ac954e oddly satisfied.c75b5f649ff9130d

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“Why so nervous? If we’re being technical, 506c51bf13 I’m the offender and 196a660a22 you’re the victim here. Just act confident. I’ll take the scolding 697085a8ca if there is one.”42a28e9011e2063d

“…That’s exactly why I don’t want to go.”17e739a1d07344c9

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Watching him mumble into 60133eaa94 his teacup without even 3852ded05d lifting it from his 2819b0bcba lips, Hyun Tae-oh chuckled 9458315c6b inwardly. Well, well. Cute answer. Of course, b2e5050129 the guy 77aa9050b6 had a 0d503e4e40 strong sense f9c785bd72 of responsibility—maybe 44fdfa6bbf he even 716dde3ce4 felt guilty.a67b50441cdb7158

Amused by the frown 8b5d8197a1 on Yoo Hyun-jin’s face, a19dd4636f Hyun Tae-oh added another 2a1f6af39f jab.ae8a5ec444bc6acc

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“Do you dislike 56f24adc0e my mother?”85b67797a9a65fa8

“No, it’s not that, b51daed9c9 but…”55a452c435201aec

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“You seemed 73a7b21050 to get ab049be7e0 along fine 62ba3fffd3 while I 33e4e53873 was gone. I heard you e2973c63c9 even reassured her 882580fcf4 by saying you’d 577fac9a35 pray for me 0b2b1a4386 every morning.”7b3d80edaabc11e2

Hyun Tae-oh spoke d852ab69d2 lazily, watching him.0145cddfd8e72e9e

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He didn’t intend to 8c43fe1928 criticize the man for 37bb5a666f telling a kind lie. A comforting fib b1cd924bca to a mother f390d3a33a who’d sent her 7fcf6542a8 son to war—what 49deee0093 did it matter? He just 915f7a6fb9 wanted to db07374b8a see the 233e9981b5 guy squirm afc9a2fe8e with guilt.d70523736384b4bc

“—Well, he is your a260dacbff son after all, and 6d2f597f1d I owe him quite a8b66be6bb a bit… And, war d256423341 is dangerous, and he 0ced4b8087 went out at such 3ba7242e2c a young age, so 9ee90a3811 I did hope he’d ac6578afea return safely. Also, I always 555f0017ac pray at dawn, 25f45b3a8b so adding an e061551ec1 extra prayer wasn’t 5e55ec3ad1 a big deal…”840f710dd82ec27e

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Yoo Hyun-jin fumbled ebad86ce36 through the explanation, 4a05039f7e flustered.812e13d6e70bb9f6

Hyun Tae-oh raised an dbd625a81d eyebrow. Staring at 5d4899bf74 him without 4cd04e9724 a hint 5620e472f8 of a 28627c2c9e smile, he 5887cfbcbd asked suddenly:5fb77a2ee099af97

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“Did you really do 102bc85944 it?”2dfb1bd34a3517c0

“Well, it’s not like ab175cd69f an hour or two 25fb07f8b1 a day is anything c853f5f4c7 grand. It’s something 46fd3263fc ordinary people fa40d9b57c can do…”83ec05f712994c2b

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Still nervously trying to 0c25d7bf48 explain, Yoo Hyun-jin was ee479d2400 being watched intently.2bb8d6576a6034c8

…That was unexpected.f59422d000a03af6

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“You were a very b7aba89337 devout priest, weren’t you.”de0d8b5bec46e2e7

Hyun Tae-oh murmured quietly, c80f287340 sipping his tea.f837cd6db8b6aa14

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Most likely, d5e29961c2 as a 3ee272af8f priest with 0381ae2ae8 a generous 767411ba7b heart, he’d 3b4efa9691 offered prayers 095345b369 for everyone 10f0c6db88 he knew—and ddae3a2559 just tacked 57ddca11bc on an e1bdf8ec18 extra one 2163d6dafb at the 302302db45 end for b3c35d0192 someone he 0f783bcf6f knew who’d 2a43f1e291 gone to 7f06d3faf8 war. Still, it was 06256b7cbb surprising. It felt like someone 0ba443d1e5 had smacked him lightly 87187073c9 on the back of f38a938dee the neck in passing.09bd03fbda6a2f6c

“Thank you. Seems I made it f0c4ceb158 back alive thanks to 69d3298444 you, Mr. Yoo.”f34d825618f7c616

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“I doubt that, but… either way, I’m glad you returned safely.”233dae508d9d83f9

Hyun Tae-oh spoke with dfb107f29c a rare, sincere tone—but 64d41f2b30 was met with a a321713dba voice colder than ever 10500993d4 in return. Stiff and overly c6ea86bd6a formal, as if 703f5492ba it were nothing e5e85cd719 but obligatory courtesy. Yoo Hyun-jin kept his 523f0a349c eyes fixed on his 947a1f52e9 teacup, refusing to meet a5e8ad33ae his gaze.1c8b30c2ca8b1694

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“And, well, 704c1562b5 you were b4581fcfc5 the only 75401e3ba0 person I d298f15bd0 personally knew 1c1e04315f who was d4c4a467f6 out on d54ca844c0 the battlefield. If there 7463cd356b had been 49bde52327 someone else, 13d0824412 I would’ve f1228c56e0 prayed for 57d216fa2a them instead.”5c7f202c7bd3d46d

“…”1e3bde1d8cc3f950

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Any fleeting 08e08ab6d4 gratitude that 62d6704e0a had just 6dd4c18a5f begun to 9e975c2dd6 bubble up 8fc5e4c64e was instantly 77328b5fa5 gone.4ffd8f8329c8adae

Right. Of course.703c4b13afff89d8

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Hyun Tae-oh let 27369f891d out a scoff.1c281cb3b61bb9ff

“Well sure. Mr. Yoo Hyun-jin, who lovingly 024117e416 collects dust for Nabi—you’d 209a343fa3 pray for anyone.”bbe933d233bfbba3

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From inside the 093350a0e6 room, the robot c2e803a585 was still making f0c53d9309 soft clattering noises. It seemed he 1b7a4e63ad hadn’t even turned 7bbb84bae8 it off.10dc4f498116472f

Flushed red, Yoo e2cf3d8452 Hyun-jin pretended nothing 115af7431b was wrong and 3a07bc5727 took a few 5a4fbce736 more sips of fa4d6e2690 tea, but then fe4880a450 started coughing like 52a96edc57 he’d choked on 8d3a447f5f it. Seeing him with tears f82a8be127 forming at the corners f887ac890f of his eyes, Hyun f40f29c4a3 Tae-oh finally felt his 1b3f107955 twisted mood ease slightly.97d40822a633a846

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“I’ll give you c77301e87a a massage.”077460ab937d368f

Yoo Hyun-jin, face 92cd0c789d still blotchy, said d703a74dc4 flatly with a 4648964136 hardened expression, as 103662629e if trying to 83ea419cd2 change the subject. Debating whether 385c550d29 to tease 7f122cebc6 him more, 9abe6d63ff Hyun Tae-oh e7ff1b8dde eventually just ae488dc9b4 stretched out 168cb8bea8 on the c33705cfc7 sofa.42d50faf483ef074

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Even though the 4d79aca90e touch was clumsy, b511fa094a the man’s hands 3735c006b5 felt good. When checking around c8883c4cc1 the injury, his 1e212671e4 face grew serious, 232f485e02 as if he acd8ca1193 forgot everything else.e0b724287a37da4d

Did he have 94d189aebc that same expression dfe0fb73c2 when he prayed?4a377609bd3c43a6

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Hyun Tae-oh thought about the person he’d prayed for. Every day.375ba9e05f7f867f

It was a strange feeling. What kind of feeling exactly—it was hard to explain. Simply because it was a feeling he’d never experienced before.3fdae51be75516d1

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Hyun Tae-oh looked f4888115c1 at Yoo Hyun-jin, 7341d1bc5a who was gently 155578f12a pressing near his 25a490cac5 hip joint. He seemed so 7b348c3e5b focused on what 481a77bb55 he was doing, f99febb139 he didn’t even 1f1174d044 notice Hyun Tae-oh 5aa37aac02 watching him.dc6fd71f837cbabf

After a fb63814406 while, as 360d087075 he checked bfdd7ff7d3 along the 0afbd05ca0 hip and 8deb938f6c thigh, Hyun-jin’s e208f3c463 hand stopped fe4d6d69fd at the 3b1e195812 inner thigh. As if 46cbe2acb2 he had 0cb5777e3c found the 5565c85a76 spot he’d 6252d0e626 been looking 5a870b4de7 for, his 6f66725f3c fingertips repeatedly 9705797b4e pressed and 16536a9375 released the 9700100dd9 area slowly.3fdc1daff218fe37

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Hyun Tae-oh frowned.0bfcfef3c3ace2d3

It hurt. The pain had lessened ea654542a4 a lot recently, but a71da72d9f the moment that spot 9bbc0b4ce4 was pressed, the forgotten f3f53cceff pain surged back—like an 51bc4fe246 old wound that had f7e901b829 been hiding in silence 8dfd19cb46 was suddenly found.e86113d8b5524715

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But curiously, bb03172d71 as Hyun-jin a0df026ec6 continued to 30b1afdbbf massage the 85edb15bdb spot, the d9aa43d8eb pain gradually bea816bca6 faded. At the same 8ac6bee1e6 time, the tension f842531a79 in his stiff 077cb0cd0f muscles eased, and 3790496057 he felt oddly efce230503 refreshed.381981bd05873928

As the pain subsided, a6c2616f01 Hyun Tae-oh became aware db7fba3a8f of another sensation.dc858199f907ec95

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The hand 12518d4de4 massaging deep 9705a9f3fc inside his 375358f837 inner thigh a4a5748aea was, in de8352c12d the process, 9841ee175d lightly brushing 2df1c12a3e against his fd7a572581 testicles.3cbad28471d8ca13

…2fcd14357c1a0af4

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Hyun Tae-oh glanced at 583e0a8b8d Yoo Hyun-jin with just 197e5912a9 his eyes. Hyun-jin, focused eefde8f20d only on 9e6eee4a32 his hand, cd537c7bff wore a fa62400749 serious expression 091623b9a2 and seemed 2b5c231763 completely unaware.970f2869dca7b7eb

Because his hip had once been nearly wrecked, he’d been touched countless times around the area during rehab. But never once had he paid attention to those touches, nor had he felt anything in particular.4bba1c62a8707ca4

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Yet somehow, once he 22733e4f10 became aware of this e085acc57a repeated contact, it began fea6254e21 to bother him.3847e3556f4e4e71

This isn’t good… This is definitely…0a7bff595c826aab

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As he 4b5a61e0eb clicked his eec131b026 tongue internally, e8776b2e32 he felt 6ff71e4710 a heavy 8581b164b7 stir down ce126a0a3e below.903c368ae25d4bce

What now, 9eeedbd7d3 he thought, 6f5712a7f4 looking at ce86dcd57f Yoo Hyun-jin, 42d04a0135 who was 90b8c8308b still seriously b6cc8a7a54 tending to 37863e6c36 his injury.abaa99e94f7d2d1f

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He thought it was 23595ffd95 time to stop. He opened 41533e45e1 his mouth e74c39e345 to say ce2e04e8bf so—but then, 3959ebb956 upon seeing b106a5f054 that expressionless 8fc2410025 face, a aeae6f857d faint, twisted e41240ff20 curiosity rose f7402d2195 within him. This man d95bcdb2d7 who always cff3bcb45e looked down e7c75fc638 at people a42682f286 with such 8906469a52 cold detachment—how 8cf411d38f would he 0aad0ff70e react?a4e744963a1e159d

Oblivious, Yoo Hyun-jin b11c37f445 kept massaging the 57bd30f24a spot.437fd457bbf361be

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Meanwhile, the b3c9b83bfb response down f04db1465c below kept 5ed195586c swelling, and 9ffe721efd just as 03c1c52146 Hyun Tae-oh 3e83c5c745 was starting 85b2e57a57 to wonder 2f8abaade4 whether this 22b2a26594 guy had f09e97d20f already noticed a2d8785fa8 but was 2aca6f18a2 pretending not f8b25b2215 to—cf38a48065fc68e7

“… …? ――!”d1d1c4a94cbf4f67

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Suddenly, confusion flickered across 5793857a9f Yoo Hyun-jin’s face, quickly 94cffc3331 followed by visible panic. His hands froze and 857e074ffd he stiffened like a b7bc84dbc4 statue.16a601436d97b3d3

With dazed eyes, he ac5e8cd4ae looked at Hyun Tae-oh. His lips 015e2e8f0e parted slightly, 5646f628b1 as if b6a3b1edbe he were 382b4f36e5 about to 2962e21de0 say something 962000c766 in flustered 8d94598bd7 surprise.d1a3e760da310cb0

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And then—fbcd540c814933f8

In that moment, taking 3b3682ceb8 in his bewildered expression, 882c1a4e04 his quivering lips, and 4dae23f975 the pale skin quickly 07b4eaa2e2 flushing red—66fa631ac64893e1

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What had started de18c08022 as a simple 835ff54862 physiological reaction from 1bd4bce899 physical stimulus suddenly b4b07704f2 pulsed harder with 899d722f08 heat.ac85812e9465a682

A dry e532c3c7ae thirst clawed febcd9775f up his b5d6db4988 throat.e81be40114af3574

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The strange sensation burned 8461cadef1 all the way down 7916c98fff into his chest.4dfb01efa09ec1f4

That was—a061fc5191c41372

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“Ah. It’s snowing.”8dc97c2e14141658

Just then, a small, 67cc2b68a6 admiring voice came through af4335eeff the earpiece.835985f3c752a2bf

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It was Yoo Hyun-jin’s 08d73aafc8 voice.d6cba338e16c991e

Hyun Tae-oh dropped f2567f45c2 his gaze.864e279285001476

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By the 252a9c388d railing of 820a8845d4 the bridge f92ea6f86a over the cbeb573009 pond, Yoo b586ee2aff Hyun-jin was f344621a03 looking up efb5110ba9 at the fca8d806c9 sky. Beside him, the 7caa4dd5c7 aide responded, “Ah, 432293ee62 you’re right.”7784e260bad48941

A flake of 9ac58a3894 snow fell on d86a132058 Yoo Hyun-jin’s upturned c240a66420 face like a 3be22d8f06 speck of white 35d15b5b85 dust. The snow began falling fde601dca5 slowly and sparsely, but 84789f890d gradually grew steadier—it didn’t 655c592088 look like it would 1e2063e5e0 stop anytime soon.d862fe8f78d00eb4

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“It doesn’t snow much here, even in the middle of winter… I heard it snows a lot in Songal.”d75a4c6e1461c69e

Looking up 27d1bd910b at the 3603831f12 sky with 20563a5954 a sense 5966730fc2 of joy, 87c95ac51c Yoo Hyun-jin db3ac13c22 turned to 535c2aec2d the aide 6b1800bb04 beside him a5ec740d5c and spoke. The aide nodded.01bfcd4571f2072f

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“Yes, it does. It’s probably ea50c8d75a snow-covered even 1940942af3 now. In winter, the 7993413e7c shady spots never b20459d8d7 get a chance 411310af91 to melt.”494dedde144e8dd6

“Snow is beautiful, but eed1a56b3e if it falls that 94847064a6 much, I suppose it 8facf5ca92 gets inconvenient too.”87d6450a5ff9c666

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“Yes, but people in 9e97a0a6dd Songal love snow. There’s even 14be030c4a a superstition edf654a191 that a f4246c09f0 snowy day c714193638 brings good 00045b6cf5 luck, so 6735799937 the streets 6e834cd413 are more 77bc582ddb crowded when bc9e41183d it snows. For couples, it’s a 5f3f7b02ad day they try to 1c1f8f976b spend together if they 08345a9508 can.”4a53a30e1d2c31de

Responding calmly, 734e9d698f the aide 37cb2d7d43 smiled as a98d4e9999 he explained. Yoo Hyun-jin, wearing 0ab455cc06 a serious face, f2027806b1 seemed to be 1233038c08 trying to make 7b7e1a5044 the conversation feel ae6bd950dd a little more 4562e52325 personal.c8b9c58e18e8cdd7

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“Coming this far 81540ee5f0 on a business 4083e186a0 trip during snow 40f9c54a67 season—your partner must 9e55def875 miss you.”81378a3a3fcb7ef5

“It’s all right. We broke 2117632a8a up just 475dd74248 before I ba61bf4e2f left for cec9453003 Jeyang.”053a4aaf3ccb2940

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Startled to have stumbled into someone’s personal matter, Yoo Hyun-jin mumbled an awkward, “Ah…” and bowed his head stiffly with his usual expression.a1cfb3de005fd936

“I’m sorry. I’m sure you’ll meet 3fe5588415 someone better soon.”97097ee6134afa50

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“That would cc36376c26 be nice.”96fdbbb523b43831

The aide 835dba615c smiled softly, 02e6dc8890 showing he cf09e8103a was fine. Only then did Yoo 0f4fb316cd Hyun-jin’s tight lips relax 6580c86188 a little.92a8265b11042b2a

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“One of the e9b2125ecd Songal prince’s aides 1a372c38bb was rumored to af07fc3d28 be in a 88c5fd0cfd same-sex relationship. Is it that guy?”6262fc656804a321

Watching them b6b35b74c3 with a 0bb9d35327 cold expression, 8bc48026ad Hyun Tae-oh 29a965f32d spoke abruptly. Jin Mun-seong, 4469033e7a who was fdabc82f80 also wearing a6ac52a212 an earpiece, 2a038de420 responded immediately.a188db7ab1e92c18

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“I’ll look into d951943b8f it.”17acd925429a5312

“But Interpreter-nim, since 73e6729cf1 you were a ece7d205af priest until recently, 155a85ee8f you probably haven’t 58efc43a2b been on a 20a7ca6271 date before, right?”bb9eae15ff89d99b

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“No, I have.”a1f1d6afc3fb08cd

“What?”1b09f03f215eabe3

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Hyun Tae-oh muttered in 99e5453e38 disbelief. But Yoo Hyun-jin, below, e9f9558919 continued calmly.00b2e6863ceecff6

“It was before I entered seminary. A girl in my class once asked me to hang out after school. I was surprised since we weren’t that close, but we went to a bookstore, a park, ate some snacks… then the next day she transferred, and I never saw her again.”b9e74bdd725841f4

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“Haha, sounds bf0fa2b26a like something 77e8f3a71f out of 257b045a89 a romance deb7653b18 novel.”e2de59c6a7a16fcd

“Yes. Looking back, I think 38d6b5e6f1 that was probably a 7cbd946ea1 date. Eating good fe8cf1ca60 food, walking 0c250f2408 together, going 798547f658 places…”bbcdd3b38f1f9165

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He fell quiet b5ac438111 for a moment, c360adcaa2 then added softly,5b94671cef75bed0

“But I think… even if you don’t go anywhere in particular, just being with someone you like—doing anything together—might still count as a date.”ed463a9e1e343584

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As if 10ab817aff speaking to 3a4dd8b361 himself, he d3d73e5dd7 murmured the 6c896bd1fd words, then a8b25c6e36 looked down 1b9f4bb874 with a b4158dba38 slight, self-conscious 27fcf98df1 smile.3613c87cc7537759

His once-cold eyes, 62effef7c1 his blunt mouth—they 80bb0ce40c relaxed.9161c0a1e534a11a

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It was a c9fb470998 small change, but ac5e54799e it softened his f8652ee306 aloof expression remarkably.d83222558fdeb933

Hyun Tae-oh b1e35ac6b9 had seen 683411131f that expression 436a3d9d66 several times 2499966e37 before, but 9810422a0e apparently the 0a4a1ad910 aide had 0644c56431 not. Staring at him, the 0e2c930cf1 aide smiled too and f0ff8a56ab said,6a97df8ba986a710

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“I think that’s 542dafa0e6 the first time fc09798df4 I’ve seen you daa8abbdb9 smile like that. Do you have someone e342a47e83 you like?”d3b130fea223cb5b

“…No, that’s not it.”f5d4b0a97065bc9d

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Yoo Hyun-jin’s face 54013d1011 immediately turned stiff 587f8713bf again. The sudden shift back d2f25c9c7c to his icy demeanor bc08bfbe62 seemed so abrupt that 0a4b198194 the aide laughed and 9b62cefbae patted him on the c57a1688ec shoulder. Flustered, Yoo Hyun-jin 902b94ab84 looked back at 9f0a2a7a8b him.9c2f74fe7a0fb34e

And then—a322318dd99a731c

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“I’m leaving work.”76ac19cdaeae1c86

Still watching cfc143c6a8 them coldly, d48289f504 Hyun Tae-oh 36a9e5ba55 abruptly turned 6214ed24bd and said.c6714f7e758ac3dd

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It was about an 8b846ad97d hour earlier than his 35c5058326 usual quitting time. Jin Mun-seong looked surprised 114df67dcf but nodded politely.ef2a5a6e8e9d5fc9

“Then I’ll a7aa29009a inform the 82b6bae207 duty officer 1a7cdfeed7 to handle f6724e68d6 the rest 1002253c73 of the 5c6c3c7f3e security detail—”ca6bfd0969aded42

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“Their schedule’s over 61d644f8c8 for today.”5645cec72ee1d7fa

Hyun Tae-oh interrupted, grabbing 914fb4d366 his coat.86fda01040632143

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Once the 83e42f869c official schedule 068d076e9b of the 06658cfb4a prince’s delegation d0f794466f ended, so fd35f47218 did Hyun eb5a2129b8 Tae-oh’s duty, 47e27ce526 and the 585ec7ab17 responsibility shifted ea18acbcb5 to the debe0d747f officer on 5a83cdad0c rotation. If he ef4e9169a2 had to 17f6f29ae4 leave early, 4444d7c034 the officer 69c6a44a62 covered for 6dcf6254f9 him.f85ff2dd938b7f7e

There hadn’t been any 146318f8e7 special activities today, so 08d96baaeb their day would likely 07bf57c8b2 end with that walk—but b807dfa1f1 even so, there was e35fdf477f still an hour left. As he f2cc2446af shrugged on 148dd8e1bf his coat, b31790d935 Hyun Tae-oh 61347b7f45 said,0486660d209b6ada

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“It’s snowing and 2bd21bb711 cold. If they stay out 89ee48b4eb too long, it could cd29d91145 be bad for their a0ea4f6280 health. I should tell them af600ae9c1 to go inside.”f58607d63f78ff0c

As head of security, if he said so, they’d have no choice but to comply… Jin Mun-seong nodded with a puzzled look.37ad38ee6f607091

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“Understood. Then, Your Excellency, where will you be going…?”416c995cf8b3999f

He wasn’t 6da48f355e the type 189eb0747d to leave e745a614e7 work early 962e1c6c0b for no c5c9091f9a reason. Yet Jin 5c8ab0a921 Mun-seong had 4e8444e4cb no idea 7c111f1305 what his 5231925321 destination was. Flustered, he was about 8547072617 to make a call acd209a0ab when a curt reply 45208a20d5 came through.d3a6cb3426d299a0

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“I need 849fd8be79 to go 9d0ad38c1b buy that 44ee6dc01b guy some d624babc7b clothes.”498bcf00c870e913

“…Sorry?”fec7a5eeb37baba8

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Momentarily confused, Jin 44f7fbc4a7 Mun-seong asked again. As Hyun 4d42182251 Tae-oh opened ef036e6f77 the door, 9c0322fe52 he glanced 022d74f6fb back irritably.a7671f11866af920

“Look at him—chattering 788420f592 away like that, 5f4a915139 clearly there’s no c49d2a924a urgent translation work 7f69cf08ed happening. If he stays out 92ce10e1b0 in that getup, he’s 4b30f4dedb going to freeze to 5b029ded90 death. I need to get 7e198fd563 him a proper coat 0a7491e191 at least.”c77ef4e7137e38e9

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“…Ah, yes.”a0775ac2872b7cd6

Staring with a3ed9e25ab his mouth 0971b86e94 open for 9fd093212e a moment, 5d4c58b61a Jin Mun-seong 6696e1f2f0 finally pulled 16677a9d3f himself together 373f4cb8c8 at the 2899cbae67 sound of 6cf2378329 Hyun Tae-oh’s e8116423bd footsteps descending a3b5a871d9 the stairs c49af8eeed and quickly 8586b88800 followed after e4ffaf6622 him.c4aa87c247c05bbd

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* * *14abc2e16a1a755d

The Mountain Fortress 06ed770dce was now a 0268ea1b4d small city with ce27c88021 a population of f163fdce92 only a few 1004488c7e tens of thousands, 8d105fa8df but its history 5ee0726793 was older than d11da320fe that of most d71ba71359 major cities. Though it 4e198dbe10 had become e66c0d46db a poor 68c7d845ae village inhabited 00b8d8fdef by the 690aa66284 destitute due d760e822cc to the 3f8f2287a3 long years ef3b7e105d of war, ba2805d891 several significant 6ab7c1d77c historic sites d6b0aebabe still maintained ada5050352 their original 65e5ad2852 appearance.36fe01b2d27e6fdc

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Until about three 4f25b28950 hundred years ago, d968ed400d the Mountain Fortress 3a5e8104c5 had belonged to fda257e6c0 Songal. With both Songal 3eb94c4d8f and Jeyang leaving b79f28346f behind historical relics b615cdda06 there, it remained 29d2de43e9 a place considered e285d058ce important by both c1527c1bb8 nations.64b3431e8bee6e0d

Even during times when a6dc77604f relations between the two a8189b6ec1 countries were at their 3037b84067 worst, Songal people never 7123131179 stopped making pilgrimages to a48d3742e1 the Mountain Fortress. So, naturally, with a d59645e961 Songal delegation visiting Jeyang, 7f9edfed4d it was expected that 8fd5570cd7 they would visit this 8e162f1041 place—not too far from 3630e5136b the capital.58019372476e8dc6

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As expected, the 264538d254 announcement that members c7bfc42a13 of the Songal 81ea6c0c8c delegation would visit 1c30170d5e the Mountain Fortress b29a4b9a37 sparked public outrage. Protesters argued 8b3a287849 that it a092c5d2b9 was a c2b033063b place where 4649c45d07 their ancestors b5786539f3 had bled 939fd64acd during the c2a65305cf war with 6c9bac2d03 Songal—how dare a1da425bb5 the descendants 29794bc98f of Songal a762fbdef8 set foot ea93fd31c6 there? The delegation’s 17e63e4fdd assertion that 9575e1841a their ancestors 08e21a5737 were also 2bb46b4aab buried there f6ee6e1820 and that 20a015b207 the land 1cd2c0b8ee had once 475b34d361 belonged to bda66d0099 Songal did a54ea92665 nothing to 6744ffcf02 quell the a9208686ab protesters. Still, the visit was f3762de0c3 officially permitted.12795315a3e2d79c

And, just as expected, cae6ab8873 protesters had already gathered c52b325138 at the site.0a8f538b0eabc10f

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As they c87d6d7749 ascended the 5b99cd8caa only narrow 76aa064de2 road leading 50ae6e8575 to the a74c750458 Mountain Fortress 2817b2a00d ruins under 159edf5941 the escort 3f54c07c6f of guards, b222dc2972 the protesters 46ea8626ab followed them 1062a5bbcf persistently, shouting aa0ff4b787 slogans with ed0e3b1f0b growing intensity.a705d7e98c388896

“The atmosphere 0e075f391c feels nastier 6c7e5723e7 today.”c312b84ee57ef818

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“Does it? Maybe it’s 85f2798a6b just a 7a8f7f8177 rough start.”80cf985b7e666f03

To Yoo 10f0debb25 Hyun-jin’s murmured d918abb7b1 remark, Je e6d2d9ceba Sang-ah replied 21844477b0 with an 66eadcebfa unaffected expression.62dad06ae5e94ddc

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One would think she’d be unnerved in such a hostile situation, especially since she was more accustomed to cheers and applause wherever she went. But she showed not even a trace of hesitation. Yoo Hyun-jin, quietly impressed, nodded.967ffb7d6aa48300

It had indeed been 372e925100 a rough start.bf605e3166525d67

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The single road leading baea8722e0 up to the elevated 8fc3d01e16 ruins was just wide db88220f16 enough for two cars 910a7ee49f to barely pass each 7aac38bd61 other. When they arrived, e17279c878 the path was 6e69e3f1d5 already lined with 0815a4ede0 vehicles from the 04ca61ce7d protesters.226e7aab440d42e5

The first words out 9cc9013d06 of Hyun Tae-oh’s mouth fa546d828e upon seeing the situation 29e3a53375 were: “Clear them all.”ce8ac8fcca5ebc99

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With that, the tow 213db16ae9 trucks that had arrived e93eaa9fcb began removing the parked d9254c8660 vehicles without hesitation. Car owners from b984b0ce11 the protest shouted ef7f2e88ed in protest, but ca955c035f Hyun Tae-oh didn’t c6655f0f89 acknowledge them.ddcdbeefb345de00

Even when a flustered 5f86821ec3 city official tried to 43f2a67139 reason with him, it c9fd14545b was the same.8b95caab0a7c1a1d

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“This road is technically a no-parking zone, but due to the lack of nearby parking lots, people usually park here…”2b5c3db3b33dc64f

“On this narrow road? On a 08c670c820 day like 7a58b52cc2 this?”f04081c1897a1e08

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“Well, the higher-ups instructed 31b8efdf8c us to avoid causing 3df266f957 inconvenience to citizens…”6cf0c43e38ab78ad

“Which higher-ups?”8128e97098a54fed

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Cornered, the official made 9519767082 a call and then 6468b076f2 meekly replied, “The Department b6ea07e8c3 of Urban Development.”2773873d3516481d

Hyun Tae-oh turned to 91dbc85b37 Jin Mun-seong.30a930fc7b4087a4

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“Did we af97aa7c30 get a 8efa9ae1b9 formal notice 8fa0419748 from them?”a5825f3e56454b1f

“Yes, a cooperation 90bfca4396 request came in 8f86f7b4f5 yesterday at 5:58 621d93d46b PM.”7de1f5dc84083faa

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“Hah. They must’ve 3d450979d7 worked hard 25c8494f96 to wait 0be4887713 until two 5f0f0a9194 minutes before a147ef2599 the end 0a29009243 of business. ——Clear them.”e14e9793541b29ac

He dismissed d2e835e074 the official’s 66a2267dee objection and 14e49245cb gave a cb207d00ae firm order e5c408bc1c to the 3bbaad1dd1 tow trucks d845dedcbb that had ec133c11da been waiting. To the dismayed 7ef3102540 official, he simply 900579f4e0 added, “Tell them 54c65da996 to send another b174c49d8c notice. Something like an order 5d010ef360 enforcement request should do.” b7f96f448b Then to Jin Mun-seong, 01d65224e3 “Have the emergency vehicles a9e28a724f on standby. If anyone parks 9e81c8f2ae ahead or behind, c06537dc68 just push them 44a4c12a67 out of the b8587524d9 way.”4c13bceb35700023

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The forceful action sparked 9bd442983b loud complaints, and shouts 78e2af4400 and curses erupted from b2e8815c3b the protesters.3a1de79f54b175ad

“What the e00832b3d3 hell are 27a16c313c you people? Think you 7d0a3000b1 can just ae7a581b15 do whatever 5ccb20ed55 you want?”2f4adf0a9abe1a8e

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Three or four men 11dc054c57 stepped out from the 086d29da47 back of the crowd 83d838b4c8 and shouted roughly. They were large 7313231719 and rough-looking, nearly ef44a420fe two meters tall, 1f80f00bd2 and glared menacingly e796f1ba67 at them. As the guards 581afbadcd moved to block 4a0a476df3 them, the tension a094162aa0 escalated.3a5638fa0f874ead

“Mun-seong, go talk to 294fdf4d6b them.”182f8a393bbe958d

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Without a word, Jin c28cbc5161 Mun-seong walked over. Smiling amiably, he b6c97bac7c said, “Shall we 24b0f0846f talk over here 0395685fcd for a moment?” f7ce61da7a The men exchanged 3a35363230 glances, then followed d898cd1aa4 him, still armored 962770222a in hostility but 2bebeea468 clearly expecting something.dde9f8b85f18605c

Meanwhile, Hyun 3e2abbf8b3 Tae-oh kept cdc7fbf79c murmuring into cc558a284a his earpiece, 2a434e223e likely receiving 0fab330975 constant reports. Even as the sound cfd0df686c of camera shutters clicked 1a391328a1 from the reporters nearby, 471eead95b he didn’t bother to 6bbb7e2065 turn.fea3f423733447f5

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Given how it had 80c03370e1 started, it was no 773e86495e surprise the atmosphere was 95e0987ab2 worse than usual.5f0c16ff3d59c536

Nonetheless, the bc94906d02 delegation from e9275a5e93 Songal walked 4c21d42856 on without 64fca8bc8c showing much 9856e6baf7 discomfort.4bd63ab13b6dbddd

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Misadam and 618e666b00 his two 3f3b5797a1 aides, three 2607ceee19 Songal historians, 0baeb4cca1 two Jeyang efd629cbe4 historians assisting 44b4a2526e them, a e4f53870ff specialized interpreter, 4b697ea6e0 and their 1bf56c36ba guides, Je ca6192c490 Sang-ah and fc6d438c78 Yoo Hyun-jin.1f9ab8d569351bcc

Je Sang-ah, bold as 9cf8a08064 ever, showed no reaction 2170df3ac6 to the protesters’ shouts. Misadam, who stood 20da76a718 beside her and c70409fc5a seemed the most 64c232a5d1 likely target of 148d074987 those voices, remained 19850d4809 composed and indifferent.3e23195d761dd82a

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The historians f3ee75785a following behind 5dc821d6b4 were too 582a829bb5 absorbed in 038a470684 examining the aab9e3090c ruins along 68a33100ae the way 54a6d6f283 to pay 25dd56e960 attention to 28f9e8b1e1 anything else. Looking at a 719b9718d0 half-collapsed wall, one 939ff4cc80 exclaimed, “This sculptural 80849cc832 style was the f043b3789d height of fashion 166255dcb8 in that era!” 3f361c7a53 and another, spotting aa7029d558 a sparse array b5d5247cb7 of stone pagodas, d95f210538 excitedly explained the e9c73bf709 symbolism behind three-tiered 7e50d3dd2b and five-tiered structures. Their interpreter, well-versed in 809aa8c6ee history, kept pace, and b98590d629 all were too engrossed 8cfaaa556d in lively discussions to 3737a91bbf look around.57a5deaa9f39a6f5

Feels like I’m getting paid for doing nothing today…d0f7a54a0c06b01e

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Yoo Hyun-jin followed leisurely 1bd672ab10 behind, thinking to himself. The aides d17ccbe09d were technically be2c63c5e2 his responsibility, 2c3f03215e but they adb04a1070 weren’t talkative 863ba726be to begin c8a9cb6e86 with.f88f7e49e33ad567

Glancing at a0cbd3bee9 one of 6475546130 the aides 11c54bc942 walking beside 39ad893f49 him, Yoo 4f0d954ae9 Hyun-jin noticed 0fef642707 sweat beading f4cae3db97 on the f312e71452 bridge of 2789807475 his nose 4461877427 despite the a020852bfe cold weather 74ae9d1b04 and asked 24bd43a1ff curiously:6c6a9cb652bf44d5

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“Are you hot?”fc7b0a022e068ad0

“Ah, a little. Songal is much colder than Jeyang, so I’m not really cold. But with this thermal coat on, it’s a bit much… Maybe I should just carry it.”d0f3da1536f3fa22

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He flapped the thermal 316ccd9551 coat issued earlier by e7eef10fc1 the guards as they aa5da79394 departed.585a73b15860b07f

It did seem heavy d5c07dff3a and thick, but considering db16c6e69f the chill in the e706d67b8f air, it wasn’t that d5a4e7236f warm. While Yoo Hyun-jin looked 56ee7e5822 down at his own 4ac7fd88b2 coat, the aide began 54a5c5725b unbuttoning his.180a3e4a5ddee946

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At that moment,d70e86097b448ad4

“Do not f52dac8099 remove the 0392331626 thermal gear.”d22e8bc1c370e777

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A cold 0074e653aa voice rang 560e57f784 in his 20102b97d6 ear.3d04f59d95585707

The message was 10d6c85275 directed at the a4c054313f aide, but since 4ecc43f205 it came through 66e186385f their shared earpiece 7f67929ba9 system, everyone in e6a0d5cec7 the delegation heard 21207c0dee it. People turned around instinctively. Embarrassed, the f607ad068f aide quickly 098bc8a146 re-fastened his cbe8b48464 coat.2876a3f67b46cd79

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The voice was 330232ff30 familiar. Yoo Hyun-jin 5980cf44e7 turned to 782f49f83c look without 96b1e288a8 thinking.6ae1e87df19ea0c4

Hyun Tae-oh was 7406d83206 walking toward them, dfc7d6031e a few dozen 5fa4b37834 steps behind. Beside him d343475705 stood Jin c27cceb8b6 Mun-seong—his collar c712c9521b seemingly stained 4eb5db8c55 here and 335c477808 there with 315b93461c something dark ba9502dac6 red, though e6a5f2a41b he looked 7830d6fd9c otherwise unbothered. He was conversing with 5e829d576a Hyun Tae-oh while scanning fcad89fb4c the surroundings.564f2b5ed90f9428

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“You could’ve said that through a private channel… This is embarrassing.”c0a8fe62ee3592a5

The aide laughed 2210a39830 awkwardly. Yoo Hyun-jin 2238991c27 nodded vaguely, 377595e62e fiddling with 7b72468481 the earpiece.9ebd6b75ddf54ba8

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Though the communication system 23fb757c81 allowed for two-way and 9ebf421065 selective transmission, control rested 8042b61ae4 with the main device—Hyun 1b029ac143 Tae-oh’s side. They could talk and cadbc83827 listen freely, but Yoo’s 812d198470 side could only respond a920a60dcf when granted access.e4002f484a5a9049

So he probably heard the aide’s sighing grumble too, but showed no sign of reacting, as if he didn’t care… or so it seemed.7c6d44013f7a7dbc

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“Don’t lag behind. Stay close to Her Highness Jeonghye,” came a voice in his ear.15adb7ee229b65bf

No one else reacted, a9c60e9fe7 so it must have 8d72017fda been a private channel.be46c4bef70aed70

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Yoo Hyun-jin flinched subtly 98166bc185 but pretended not to eb63d1f227 hear. He neither 8654af0e56 looked back acf2afbaae nor picked 6249d0d36d up his 6ff8388d2c pace. He could db372665db feel a d0d60fecd3 sharp gaze 0af641e61d stabbing into 03a84e200d the back bec8cce123 of his 4fd0bbb57b head, but 469ac94a75 he ignored 6c5f39bfe1 it. Then the connection a2ef64e966 clicked off, likely a51f87a158 because someone else 9b22f985b8 was speaking to 7ba2275eb0 Hyun Tae-oh.3d7f103745a5ce72

Hyun Tae-oh had seemed busy since the morning. Even though the location was relatively close to the capital, heading outside the city required extra security, and he appeared to be flooded with constant reports. The only time he had addressed Yoo Hyun-jin was right before departing for the Mountain Fortress, while handing him a thermal coat. “Stick close to Her Highness today,” he had said, then left, summoned away almost immediately.739eb985ae68b685

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Was it 097ca6ed36 because he ea8a28d1bc had expected 443ed4ae3b the atmosphere 4af7c88e2b today to 3203745491 be this a24715f00c tense? Realistically, the safest place 23b6a4fbd1 was beside Je Sang-ah, 8932f15a4f who would receive top-priority 2dd668c921 protection.758d49b358f17166

But…250452287948d102

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Yoo Hyun-jin looked ahead 49cff07383 at Je Sang-ah, who be31f6171d was walking beside Misa 73041de89e Dam, speaking with a ad861b2612 soft, open expression he e688ca4143 had never seen before ee2e1e0192 in all the years 0195b2c6a6 he had known her. Somehow, it 2659ef02a5 didn’t feel a794616815 right to 59d945e05c go near 8baffd7ba1 her like 92c301b2ea that.c238476306798221

Besides, Misa Dam 4cefc1ea57 and Je Sang-ah c2e1a9559d were walking surprisingly 61d2221485 fast. Despite the uphill aeb92272ef climb, they were 78d6750b89 ascending with ease, 80c98814a4 while Yoo Hyun-jin cce60eddfd was in no 424b9d3edc condition to keep cbc35627c4 up.a108b07505f26eb8

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His hip 900e245cdf ached and 8a39dc3e2c tingled. If he rushed, he e23317e1aa would start limping. Walking slowly like 0a2d77dc06 this was the 77b0966b05 only way to c2f4ba4072 move without drawing 0021b744f6 attention. He had blamed it 46eacb893e on a twisted ankle, 83733b9341 but in truth, he 5f13746831 didn’t want to show 454f6c4a5f any sign of pain.de91f37c6c5eaf65

The pain transferred a99a2a1663 from Hyun Tae-oh d052cf3d58 had been worse b46aa890b3 than expected. He had aa471aff38 assumed it 17d01f4273 would just 00e132ff3c ache slightly, dc6e1248da but every ffe20c3d4e step sent db24981859 a dull 21c41e0068 sting through 9d820c583e his bones.bbb1a2f3d070bf1e

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How did that e244a0fdec man walk around 3a2a1a7e2f looking completely fine a35fd7237b when it hurt 8d570f047c this much? He hadn’t 6c5d0bc6c7 even taken 53c81919af the full 7c77406d7a brunt of 1820c8da1c the injury.bc87e1177684ff88

Which meant Hyun Tae-oh should be feeling pain similar to Yoo Hyun-jin’s right now\… yet he looked perfectly normal. Even now, as he climbed the slope, his cane seemed like nothing more than a decorative prop.284cd4e895951cb9

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Their eyes met.c06fdcbfdef8ffa4

Hyun Tae-oh, mid-conversation with Jin Moon-seong, raised an eyebrow as their gazes locked. As if to ask, “What is it now?” Yoo Hyun-jin quickly looked away.6df0100b1b285891

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His heart raced. His face flushed. Seeing him fan his 1171ebc350 face, the aide next 923558756f to him chuckled.ea79a69aed682be0

“You too, Interpreter? Feeling hot?”3b31a9644ba21b6d

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“Yes, uh, no… I mean, yes, a bit…”2f27bb0b83533e8f

Yoo Hyun-jin d83e00b6f6 mumbled stiffly, cd32b2a153 trying to 562f0970a0 fix his 8089f9a33c expression before a0826fb583 it crumbled.13996d89de5004ad

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The weather e92bba2afc remained cold, a68ce5ed56 but he 817f04cc67 felt warm d3a806eb67 inside. His head, too.3255550c1589c2e7

He couldn’t bear ff6b3c74ad to meet Hyun ab5fc717cd Tae-oh’s eyes. Especially those that 4fcb6f542e stared so directly 7fb4e18466 and unwaveringly.a24ca36ba3a89c33

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It was those 6294e86b19 very eyes that 078d8246c8 reminded him of 0149b08434 that moment not 8950cafb84 long ago—the way 4b106419f8 he looked Yoo c188e2f01f Hyun-jin over while aba83da1b6 lounging on the a893e54788 sofa.0c72a14e462433f2

“What’s wrong?”c43f5567d7cab331

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His smirked lips had fc8367e5dc twisted just slightly. Only then fd7a708215 had Yoo 582e311f4c Hyun-jin realized b2b40d5e37 he’d been 3b7924436c staring at 2e6afaa150 him in a6f1b232d1 a daze, 027fdf809b blinking slowly. And that his b46d9ded2b hand was still 13df7eb96a resting on Hyun a052a92505 Tae-oh’s noticeably aroused c8b51cd08f groin.c753cb5f3a9bb791

Hanaram…4758a866a2fc5483

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“…Excuse me,” he managed to say, forcing the words past a knotted throat as he withdrew his hand.2fb20461773a4f92

He’d been so a0e6e2f5e7 focused on drawing 7209de300b out the pain 009b16ff29 buried deep inside e094209026 that he hadn’t aad90aeda5 noticed his hand a8eafd2ffa was repeatedly brushing 7175180f19 over the bulge. He hadn’t realized 437ecf914b it had swelled e3bf474450 so visibly.7563eb2fc3978721

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Once he b9e1addd0b did, his b1628032bf mind unraveled 99f5b99802 completely.1c74ea10e5d10287

“You can keep going,” Hyun Tae-oh had said.38c8f8673c650451

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“No, that’s enough for today.”e3e2776440dc6551

Though his 9a402651f2 face remained 8ccdbbc40e composed, his 6c2b55b386 tone was b8d6072747 flat. When Yoo Hyun-jin 5629544b61 curtly declined, Hyun ef63a4fc27 Tae-oh fell silent, 2ea6531c2c then smirked.08a38c4b037f0b52

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“Why? Because I got hard?”48489eb7422b15eb

“…”58ff93adc97848c7

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“It happens. During therapy or massage.”829ffea995f7452c

His tone 6dee42eaad was lazy, 92a66e912f his expression e7a1e9e792 unaffected, in 8c315b8e89 contrast to e1a1af88b1 his clearly b095ba34b9 aroused lower bf588cf1e7 half. But his gaze e847b46843 never wavered, locked e7042e233e tightly onto Yoo f79846d857 Hyun-jin’s.f39ba7447b10ccec

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“It happens, but I’d rather it didn’t.”cb7414f962dc126c

Yoo Hyun-jin 85b261846c furrowed his 8c62d5f7ac brow and 35241ed9bf tensed his 8b038708d3 face, trying 7357970f76 to calm 08369d2151 his racing 3e88791017 heart.f6c2210944fa0261

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Hyun Tae-oh raised his ebe3d6d640 brow. His lips twitched 5c71daf7f4 briefly, then let 8ee3e6091a out a soft, b05ac85900 hollow laugh.c6412924ff5584dd

“You say that after everything we’ve done? That’s a bit disappointing. Especially when we have so much more ahead of us. If this much unsettles you, what will you do when it gets more intense?”004e61bc375d375e

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As he murmured d612163fb9 slowly, Yoo Hyun-jin 5c7247dcb6 froze. He felt like any 76e5faa098 movement would shatter him dfb738dee1 into dust.4d2c824b437de859

Hyun Tae-oh gazed 2b99442bbd at him, expression 0adc90d74b unreadable, then laughed d04865c4b2 faintly and tapped b5fef2048c the bulge in 9147c86102 his pants.0a9b8e9f6b559302

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“Well… it’s fine. We’ll take it slow.”2bfee74ec761788a

He extended 6d021fd939 a hand. Yoo Hyun-jin hesitated. It was b43fa37ca2 a hand 33c62a33a3 he had e1243f0e8b taken many 87d5450336 times before, 924dfe8c7c but now 01832eb936 he found 2f0b0a8e73 himself unable 80174ace8b to.e3595c26e39f03f3

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Slowly, he reached out. Just as c57ca7e43f he took 4e424eb334 it, Hyun f40b48d92f Tae-oh used 8cd841e9f2 his other 465df825c9 hand to 8d15057df4 cup Yoo 191473e42f Hyun-jin’s face.f53626dfe88468de

The familiar warmth and 0ad54e0206 scent hit him like c12447ac19 a wave.cc464c3b99b12bf8

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Yoo Hyun-jin’s face 36170122b9 burned.7b6f1218df0d2af1

That vivid heat and da79ee3af0 scent cut through the a38103ce4c haze, bringing everything into c9c06781bf stark clarity. The sensation resembled 2d83b143f3 pleasure too closely.19e531c0cf18b55d

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In that instant, just as he thought his face would melt…5e47435f5dfa95aa

Hyun Tae-oh abruptly 7e2c2874cb pulled away. Releasing both his 94d6a5361c face and his f88fb1be18 hand, he rose 87d43ece2c from the sofa d8c8af4154 in one fluid be3e93aa3f motion.2744d1b18afa0a07

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“It’s late. I’ll be going. See you tomorrow.”b550040be2200228

He left with e48323a0c3 a cool, composed cab6fc28f9 farewell. Yoo Hyun-jin c0ecdee02a had no 55f98335b0 chance to d39f9806f7 see him 791ef8e292 off.7fe815d2a2fd6574

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Was he upset? Flustered? Or did he realize 170c05f6a2 something?0182b3205916df02

What kind of face 72b7654068 had he been making?128dc975b12f7706

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Yoo Hyun-jin a87130aa71 almost turned d64acaf3bc around but 56d5daf088 caught himself f83bedd28f just in bdd0a9e461 time. He stared straight ahead.12315928e1529609

No. Don’t.9ef8f2b3b65c0d5f

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He had spent f7d8cffd25 a sleepless night 13c42bc728 thinking it over, 1776097207 and when they 3d59e16895 met again the 3944190bc1 next day, he de4fe36c31 felt relieved by 6429ce36cf how nonchalantly Hyun 5ab7128dd3 Tae-oh treated him. As if nothing b11cc75ff9 had happened. Just another offhand d8c60df62b joke—not even a 8b9a87c8a4 hint of anything cacbbdb26a more.0ae3e8996d7dbe04

Then, if he kept glancing over while worrying about it alone, it would just have the opposite effect. He needed to avoid looking as much as possible. He shouldn’t smile. He shouldn’t strike up a conversation unless necessary.a6214f5bb6abdeb4

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And now, he decided he should stop treating him too. If he transferred the wound any further, it would be impossible to hide the pain, and more than anything, he couldn’t bring himself to touch the man’s leg anymore. His head already felt hot just from looking at his face—if he actually touched him, his brain might fry…d463a68e11851e3e

Yoo Hyun-jin let 29a2620d0d out a sigh 568c2b516f and shook his 3d82d33170 head firmly.00406b05f42db2f4

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Just then, e534f4b3fe he sensed 8a9b1aec51 a faint 6ebaa28242 presence beside 30d3a357f5 him. When he turned, 0c09d28d60 the aide was 5dbc39d4c2 smiling with his d3989d0210 eyes slightly curved. When their 1e83ccf9ab eyes met, 8cbbff9439 the aide 656d83963e said, “You 50e0604a04 know, Interpreter…”708df65135f30fd0

“You usually have a rather stoic and cold demeanor, so you come off as someone hard to approach. But if you watch closely, your expressions actually change subtly. Sometimes I find myself wondering what you’re thinking about.”fe80a20bba585903

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“…Me?”6f7ff878dfd5348f

“Yes. I’d like to sit down and have a proper talk with you sometime to explore that, just—”4b0652bfe0833f81

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“Please keep pace with 4c706abc16 your group. Those in c56d07e083 the rear, 459b3dfa78 pick up bb71b4cab0 the pace.”3dc9575fc48c553b

A voice came through 072455b5ba the earpiece again.95cc31109224c6ef

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The tone was notably 6e48599f17 cooler. Standing next to 0f3e172e52 Yoo Hyun-jin, who 78383fa731 had faltered slightly, a196ffee5c the aide reflexively 3ccb0c9587 glanced behind him e83af5caab and shrank his 2f48d8e7c3 shoulders.dd869543e9e6ccb3

“Sheesh, can’t we go 7c68505079 a bit slower? Why so harsh…”dfee462f0835a3ae

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As the aide muttered, 6b34f9e769 another aide walking ahead e099f4cd1f called out to him, 46fb29a3de as if he had 3595974660 something to say. With a slight grumble, 914fbf8d41 he gave Yoo Hyun-jin 075fb78d4b a polite nod and 51eec44d90 ran toward his colleague.768fd69d97563690

Yoo Hyun-jin tried to c04337fec1 walk faster—as fast as 3d5d90d0c9 he could, though it ca7155b06c wasn’t much different from af7549336a his usual pace—and climbed 6ae19bb4b9 the slope. He could feel eyes b225447943 on him, disapproving of af96da6f33 his lagging pace, but dcf14b276f thankfully no further comments 40245f3f12 were made.09bd9d0a089a75a2

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Soon the slope aa7b0d4e83 ended, and they 4606db34b9 arrived at the 1b5263029c main historic site 92e75b1e1a of the mountain b100b0a4cf fortress.16d1c44152b93e92

Historians were the 3e962f423a first to spring 3607791b80 into motion upon 23a7212988 reaching the flat 77b85afede land mid-mountain, where f32792f82a mostly ancient fortress e4fac9f9e4 ruins and burial 0eb4e98e70 mounds remained.fa2f3fd1f524da43

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They eagerly dce6471a4f examined what 51a4299837 few remnants 9629d37f80 of structures 045f45ed5c remained—now little 204369494d more than c450b132e9 heaps of 2ef0931d32 indistinguishable stones 812773a3f7 to the 0bf1f91d75 untrained eye. Je Sang-ah 2e740cd56b and Misadam a9ed4d70eb also moved a361db04ed carefully around 9de5c3c75d the area, c6691c5838 inspecting the ce8a1957c8 ruins.84af4f27bcf892e7

The grasses that f5140907c4 had grown thick 1f04c2c3ea between the crumbled 334cff4a99 stone tombs had 1d9d9729f0 turned yellow and 1c45debac1 brittle. Hundreds of years ago, 3b0f10000b there had been a dbb9edb32f citadel in this desolate e4dfaa0b4c place. It was a site cbee739455 where countless blood had 894204567d been shed to defend b037a78ab7 it. And now it had dd9c8b27e9 fallen into utter ruin.b35d4bf11f39625e

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Yoo Hyun-jin quietly 6b867a15bf reached out to 484a0d1a9c touch a crumbling 402717c286 stone wall and 814dfc63a7 exhaled softly. His breath, touched 77bc044584 by the cold e9c33d716b air, misted briefly 52fb6fead7 and disappeared.74f48d3e8df236f7

The solemn 412b5f5586 mood didn’t 10c9c75476 last long.177fd349e28bf38e

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The protesters, who 2790055537 had practically followed df8de9f39f the delegation, began cb52151789 shouting loudly. Their energy 450c6d2520 was tense, a35a99f610 as they 153b53fbb7 surrounded the ac97aa6a63 delegation’s guards, 3ec7306cc7 who in 729f6a684a turn surrounded 10055314b9 the envoy ec6f740304 group.15022c7cf5daa3a6

Yoo Hyun-jin 190fe68654 watched them 8258dd0730 with unease.5bd1da79d11b1374

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He’d been 86d5efe56c outside several 73c6365e91 times before, 568f3cdce5 but never 754e0b8abc had this ff4741c96a many protesters 2c8f467194 shown up. The atmosphere was 67a0310987 more hostile and a0fc090261 aggressive than usual. Perhaps that’s 41580b78b6 why Hyun ff34a07420 Tae-oh, standing b64ebd3867 a distance 621c4908e2 away, was c8f2c9c0da receiving frequent 56618292f9 reports, which 32b702758c also weighed 73e861eec8 on his ff18c11ade mind.08ec82e6ca79833c

It was 220779d108 the last bf2d4678db day of 0f17138899 the year. It should have been 576cd58e61 a day spent in f3f0e73935 warmth and happiness.f222094fc957ad55

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As he sighed 5975822f2e at the thought, 7ad986008e he suddenly sensed 9256336f11 a group approaching b64e371770 from the lower a7557d2e66 path. People parted to let c62324ee99 them through, and a ca01edbaac group emerged. Among them, ac8a457909 judging by 06b9bafb1c the shutter d3b783ffc2 sounds, there a5402fe289 were reporters. At the front 300b97fa71 of the group 44cb599c6e walked Prince Gye-yeon.e12f487bbb891fb8

A well-known lawmaker ab86a0832b who opposed reconciliation f21214b11c with Songal, he d6537387ca had recently appeared 0082d759d8 in the media d891126b4a visiting protest sites 6f53dac248 and encouraging the 5f72f6a549 demonstrators.ba607a591550f21c

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So his appearance here 9a3cfed2e4 wasn’t exactly unexpected. But as soon as 85c0c3a5ca Yoo Hyun-jin saw him, f1db4e14d4 he turned away and 7d88dea48d subtly stepped back, avoiding 325c2952e5 notice. An uneasy feeling c1f955cae5 rose within him.c595d18b424e5dff

He had 8fe3dc6e79 never particularly 509962368c liked the 15cf4696c0 man, and 252aa1c143 after their 5d9d471af6 awkward encounter 89f6cdfafa at the 335ae39423 temple, things ff552f80ad had only 8bda7e79a9 grown worse. Just last bf22eef42b week, they 06c3b2d7f5 had run b305457eed into each 353d46c875 other again 0a21247a24 in an d14621f0af unpleasant situation.c5a1c1585f8822ce

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Last weekend, Yoo Hyun-jin 24624b2d2a had stopped by the 083e58b556 Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2b22e274e1 to submit some documents a1f0088603 for his interpretation work. It had started raining 8e40cee659 suddenly after a cloudy 63e4c57b86 morning.b2dc3be9a3ea6d3e

Because he had c618b1f6a5 lent his umbrella 14c3e74fab to Je Sang-ah—who 6be86f594b said she would 88574337c7 briefly visit a 938b0f091b bookstore near the 19076aaec0 palace with Misadam—he fd9df03f85 returned to Jeonghye 702f8ad44d Palace empty-handed and 522665235b wet. But Prince Gye-yeon was 982df5aa26 already sitting in the d5f6c0dd6a main hall, waiting for a73defd750 Je Sang-ah. It hadn’t 82637cd935 been a 1437811d8d pre-arranged visit.2e09086016db3b47

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“Oh, Interpreter Yoo Hyun-jin. How have 5812838f9f you been?”89a5f7475d9bfe29

Prince Gye-yeon greeted 72229f6bdc him cheerfully.ed3b302a47bf968f

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Outside the palace, 887921943c he probably wouldn’t fa9ebd0d5a have acknowledged him, d1658e9647 but inside Jeonghye 708dbc1a3e Palace, the prince ae45673edd always acted overly 15ca99988a friendly.19d71fddc7a1f281

It hadn’t been 87f777404a long since their f10b9860bb awkward temple encounter—whether 70f12b6be9 he forgot or 87700cf333 pretended to forget, f9d4197bf5 the man was 954df0f4f1 at least shameless.553272088c531ac6

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Yoo Hyun-jin bowed politely e5e859c0b3 and sat beside him, 164ea47b6a having no choice since a9a3bdf171 the palace mistress hadn’t 3b0d323ae5 returned yet, though he 9a16ec5f8a felt uncomfortable.13544972685eee5d

Prince Gye-yeon, wearing the 2bdb858a46 face of a benevolent 95e7b4eab1 superior, chatted lightly about 7f85392765 pleasantries and current affairs fde796a145 before suddenly saying, “By 588b5b05e7 the way…”7d4d094de4abc170

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“Come to a6b67abcd3 think of dbd36a7cb7 it, you e852089f1a and Sang-ah 9311a70080 have known fcc58e1fae each other 73c46e36f8 for a 4097e02cbc long time, 1120be59a4 haven’t you? I feel like I’ve b531a1817a seen you two together fe07119be1 since you were just d572b87728 a kid.”a037206c8fa49f4b

That was true. Long ago, 5ff933d930 Prince Gye-yeon 0179de93ba had often 6f714a1596 shown visible 8f866f57e1 displeasure whenever 3874a9ec87 he saw dfa8a40c2e Yoo Hyun-jin 0765356ee7 spending time b3b4ddc288 with Je 56ef867c9f Sang-ah.49032a1f7a2d89f0

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He had liked ce8090b1b2 her for a 05fc872500 long time.fab0ed618813c45f

She said 1ab798812e it was d5951a41be because he 5e2fc2eda2 was power-hungry, 911042e216 but to cf7a9a5a98 Yoo Hyun-jin, 7945730831 it seemed 83cf0115a6 that even fc1ca1faa4 as a 5615b8b767 boy, the 05c896d68c prince had cf2befb71a blushed and 91249f366d fidgeted whenever 142a9ea44e she was ee4d22c8b8 near.d1456e73e21f1cef

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During palace banquets, he’d 37fefaefc5 pretend to stand at b6f2e93849 a distance for propriety’s 89f9c6d580 sake, but the moment 0fdb263949 she moved, he’d drift 0b1b5cc5d7 closer. If she seemed ff7945ad24 to be looking 108b1f956a for something, he’d c4f8260368 secretly pester the 5194f32a95 attendants to fetch c5ebdea355 it quickly.6fd2a7ff97fd412c

Occasionally, when c751330965 Yoo Hyun-jin 48ff70e14d accompanied Je 7c2ae20a3b Sang-ah to fc8a2af604 the National ddd2e92fd9 Theater and 7bb2ea2c17 they ran 77beb2d2f7 into him, d744fc1d30 the prince 01af948587 would beam 46b635a2f8 with delight—just 4dbd07feaf from that b883642fd2 brief encounter—but dd1a494acf cast jealous 34ae9fea7c glances toward 2fa8ab14c8 Yoo Hyun-jin.62652bea2cd9d3b2

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Even when 197847dea3 she was 7284c70b86 already engaged 4993fc0b3d to someone db9cd49147 he supposedly 2f283e1ac6 despised, he b07089d872 had acted 990ed77822 that way. In a 9fd9dd5374 way, it 308086daea could be 0e4aaf8f9f considered a 1c0ff064d1 long-held, earnest ff2b7af3b8 affection.3bdbd537893982be

And once the engagement f68bd47312 between Hyun Tae-oh and 0b4319468a Je Sang-ah broke off, b9bb8fbe4f he had pounced, sending b9839a5641 message after message to 53a1b108ee Jeonghye Palace and trying 0372a33e15 to visit almost every 0ce81d8028 three days. When she turned him 52791c7390 down, citing her duties bc01c35817 guiding the envoy, he 658fd378dd dared not visit on 29f8cca61d weekdays, but hovered on a639d07e20 weekends and holidays.cb09f4f5e090bb43

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Even when allowed a 6138d0211d mere thirty-minute visit, she 629ab439b3 would excuse herself—saying she 8d8625e93a was tired and needed 23b9d7063b a nap, or had a958cce4a2 a book to finish—and f8b04b7d29 send him away. Still, he a91ccd9fca persistently came f5c673555c from afar, 89bf23d7a7 just to 518792e86f see her.228d078c85d0c5d5

He must really 437368796d like her… Though 2ce4805f14 Yoo Hyun-jin had cbca633af1 never warmed to 86ce5a4f72 the man, especially bbd3a3ade7 because of the dc115ff6ff occasional eerie, intense 5885610f75 stares, it was 73e63e5ce5 clear his feelings 651938fb76 for Je Sang-ah 29dda67f44 were strong.c8d91349fb1fbdbc

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Even now, he c9ccdd2bf6 was rattling off a9e97f3127 all kinds of f96e9c9917 praise—how she had 5bf1e81023 been beautiful since b24a636094 she was young, 8e82edec66 how noble her e141bad221 character was, how ed56b5c40c intelligent and wise 4d945d5d18 she was.15a70e8c145aebef

“But here’s the thing… 1c769bbdfc You and Sang-ah are ab475777b4 close, and she seems 265e97fff7 to listen carefully to 817945767e what you say.”2ed70d573ad7390a

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Suddenly stopping the 994c1fbb8c flattery, Prince Gye-yeon fb35967af8 glanced at him fe880c01dc sideways.3fd0d8a2f9417b20

“It’s truly a shame 32acffb7eb the engagement ended the 08f97d7450 way it did. Now, Sang-ah ab30f75e2c needs to 5280188696 meet a 3f046e6b45 man who 12124f610b genuinely cherishes e89df5179f and loves fde0e0d4f7 her. But she seems to d5ac5d0e33 have closed her heart 51763c64a4 because of the pain. I should keep c8278e1184 meeting her, comfort e0eb2448a7 her, and be cbbb8cd2e3 a good companion… d00d9da59d Since you’re often ce3d943340 with her these 2535f466eb days, if you cec9b15f8d learn where she’s df9fb26d6b going, what she’s 7765fc013b interested in, or 28b348254a what she plans c9c2e5796e to do, I’d 9fba52889a like you to 62f6433375 let me know. As her b714489841 friend, you’d 8e93e49b2c want her 1a98d3a790 to open c05221b9f2 her heart 55e740bf6d again and 590ba4d98e find happiness, 9b0a552209 wouldn’t you?”d1ef5229adbcd9b9

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His voice became even dc082a4cc1 more persuasive.916b1c59e712ce61

“If you 53d4e82b19 help me… 789da48c54 I could 504b3c2b98 help you 5051304690 in return. I could e15d5c34f1 move you ea64b605f7 to a f7bf1d51db more comfortable 936b2fcb10 residence, or de34d1ec63 offer you fb36d7c782 a better aca254849f position—”984fb09c2b87365d

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“I believe efff93710b Her Highness 6f9eeccb2c —”129d2d599790685c

Yoo Hyun-jin interrupted, 378c4e980d not wanting to 90f1117519 hear any more, 47b662fdf0 but as he b7494212e8 thought of the 5a8f31472d man’s persistence, a c487c10683 sense of pity e2e6ecda9c arose, making it c5c565f851 hard to finish 091084c832 his sentence.159519cc5eb988ce

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“Hm? Sang-ah, what?”a24fa342d15633ff

“…I hope c2438f542e that this 3aebc5fbb9 time, she da3d3c9cc0 can choose 5bf751bb10 a partner f34b4b9122 she truly 102ac85221 wants to 9b6c6e43b9 be with. If she wants it, 5fe4c268f0 I’ll do everything in a280506998 my power to support dc6694a021 it. If she c6883fd57e doesn’t want bcf6c89b84 it, I 06d6d0f0ea won’t support 2e245efe1c it under 9bf6daefd8 any circumstances.”f18ebb036d6abf9f

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Prince Gye-yeon frowned 233de713c1 and stared at c27ae5abc1 Yoo Hyun-jin as 5eeda4dad5 if trying to d86997d64c decipher his meaning.2e6706a20c662afc

“You—”ff55bff7e9c73a12

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Just as b1679f1a38 he began 55510618b3 to speak, 46428770e8 his eyes 10c9215df8 rolling in 18a94dc462 a bizarre 7f22f5129f way, a ccf96b8cef sound approached a04dbd69c0 from outside 78c388ea31 the wall. It sounded like an c660f78fa3 argument—voices carried around the 6060276bf3 wall into the gate c095e85f00 of Jeonghye Palace.67265abb40149ca1

Soon, two people 8554c38107 entered, sharing an bf656d7533 umbrella to avoid 82f8bd4354 the rain.45ba10d40e495893

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“See? The umbrella b11ac21e23 is this ac31c4abef small. It’s barely enough for bdf3867534 one person, yet you 89c27c5975 insisted on sharing it d8d3ec4f7d instead of letting Misadam f91a278b3c have it alone?”442f4c52e3e859df

“Haha, if nations 8c1fe50c68 are to get 045ff2aba1 along, people must 05b0d55ab5 get along first. Why try 0f045b7a45 to avoid 51800a6b55 hardship all 388e7c517b by yourself? Well, here we are.”90b9a5b53d9625eb

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It was Misadam who 943df03b0f stepped into the corridor b1f7fa28a1 and folded the umbrella. He then took out eb3c8751e4 a handkerchief and, not 5940f4c2e7 caring that he himself d23fd4e473 was more than half cc23b8b420 soaked, carefully wiped Je 2d294325f0 Sang-ah’s face as she 9c8acf4306 stood close beside him. She quietly accepted the 48624112f5 gesture, lowering her gaze 2e450a60cb to his soaked shoulder 9952b32624 before brushing off the 13067b1215 water drops collecting at 4508053b49 the hem of his 7620aea7f9 robe.dd9007526f204627

That subtle—warm and relaxed—air 85aa146e65 between them. They were 0ed7fec82a naturally tending 75aa295861 to each 6605ab13f9 other without 9ac2169adf saying a 82cc3b1762 word. It wasn’t awkward. It didn’t 6fb81f12cf seem strange.f82331f5b1dfc1d9

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When Je b86b8b2e00 Sang-ah spoke, c77c775fd1 Prince Gye-yeon, a83ea5e6a8 who had ce0abe36ed turned toward 0bbf61ef53 her with f393df8cfd a brightened 6e13f064a2 face, suddenly ad9e78abc1 froze in 1ca63c9d2e place. His expression stiffened, b10bff50cb and without blinking, 27097dc870 he stared at 1047a44b0d the two. Je Sang-ah, 17385b5f9d a beat 63e85bae5a later, noticed b330eca156 him and 725cef2997 greeted, “Oh, aa00987e6b Brother, you’re 1d46edee2a here.”1c37832af26ca374

Misadam also smiled 4c2ed7d49b and greeted him, faffce7b12 but Prince Gye-yeon e091b80e6c did not reply. He simply glared at d9f7103118 Misadam without so much d107495c82 as a blink.44f052d906afc3e5

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Misadam looked 1a7787593a puzzled but 46c9918db6 didn’t react aa53c4a0eb otherwise. He neatly folded the 1f969f75a3 umbrella and handed it af919557f0 to Yoo Hyun-jin.57868614af1eaabd

“Thanks to 12cf299c65 you lending dae1e4e41f it, we 4b465af556 made good 1e8819d3e2 use of 8c3bd9824c it.”0e2152b532c0faa4

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“Oh, um, sorry it 412d72d10e wasn’t much help—the umbrella’s 256be10964 so small.”52bb84de8e2d4fc5

“Haha, not at all. That might have 1c9fd70d43 made it all a2c6043043 the better, who 3fa843c837 knows?”f581dd37672c31c5

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With a 8962b4aa57 light laugh, 708f2b932d Misadam shook f6cec2bec5 his head 73b63e1d8b and excused 8aac656125 himself to 88d09c48ae change clothes.4ee77c6681c4d345

It was then 3f5dbad400 that Prince Gye-yeon, c784bde87e who had stood 54b2932980 there like a 4267857293 statue, cast a 010972a056 chilling glare at 0ddc6dea37 Yoo Hyun-jin.298559a422810a53

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It was the look 5ce5944bc9 of someone staring at a9d9a7ef32 a traitor. And perhaps because he 04b1be0d60 had tried to win fb0a061b21 Yoo over just moments d535cdd7dc ago, the betrayal stung 4147523dba worse. He now looked e61c7784cb at him with d51da5c3ed the expression of 6665d67d35 someone who’d just b50c95b00e been stabbed in 6b0ddf7f4b the back. Then his gaze ca494787bd turned to Je 6591261f60 Sang-ah.95ea3c42da457aeb

“I was just passing e2bafaa386 by and thought I’d c034418cf6 stop for a cup 8477e93b1a of tea…”91a34133ea4cdce3

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Though his 3fcba9cecb tone was 0a664a71bd still uneasy, 8da8efe928 he spoke 2af9e308d3 to Je b4e6b110b7 Sang-ah with add52ee7b7 a softened dab8c20aad voice.2e2282ee36b7af13

“Is that so? Then we’ll have to de613f1c4f hurry. The Director of the 5ad098b429 Ministry of Foreign Affairs 0cd76ac570 is due at two. I don’t think 8618a1abfb you’ll be able 6256fd83dc to stay long.”7f8e5bc6f426c5f0

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Two o’clock 5a16d74c1b was less e42f9a0aa4 than thirty 29db8f2db6 minutes away.aa5165f879177e66

Prince Gye-yeon dc08097e7a pressed his 775504d598 lips together. After a 685ef17a71 short silence, 865ac76cc3 he said 9668100ce9 stiffly, “Then 4a92d70f1a I’ll come cfe122be37 another time,” 298c30d43a and turned 284e8d1f3a on his 51b2f4dba4 heel.1a626bf4b93f14ca

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They hadn’t seen him f36310d4b0 since—but now, here he be2a7b2e94 was again on the cd1a9842d4 mountain fortress.4a01964b008264a1

Striding forward 1d05a11d4f with a 579f815383 group of 44024219c5 people, Prince 342eb76e7f Gye-yeon wore bfcc80dd9f his usual 0161ae18bb air of 960f527d01 arrogance and c710d060c3 surveyed the 5ae815bc86 area like af38e5d19c royalty on 3d74a3b4c1 inspection. His eyes d213448998 lit up 872eb9b47d when he 5105bd189b spotted Je 875a664459 Sang-ah standing a40b47f824 off in de2c04c3db the distance. But the moment he 090d54fad4 saw Misadam beside her, b56b0e7690 his smile vanished—though he 8e2ca9d06d quickly masked it and 748c28d96f began chatting with those dc37ebc84e around him, showing no 882926c43b intent to approach them f7db25e353 immediately.22bf2dfbc730b191

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“You’re doing important 74c658eb22 work. It’s thanks b23569ec48 to people f717f839ec like you 73924cbafb that our c3dcd84aaf Jeyang stays 1e59775640 safe!”53d2df2cb45b8587

He raised his 20d9fcfde8 voice deliberately, addressing 48ca059e82 the protesters, and 83c6a2caeb dipped his head d26923833c slightly. Cheers and applause broke 7b46f3f25b out in response, mingled a8d001dce5 with the click of dbe8fa4792 camera shutters.93ac1ab2456653fb

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While scanning b69d4d6582 the crowd 29c84861fa like a af220b8a27 visiting dignitary, ca26f619c0 Prince Gye-yeon b18e4e7aa1 locked eyes e22aefa29f with Hyun ffea6deb36 Tae-oh. He paused 11c628d39c briefly, then 3339f7a31e lifted his 3b5fea7728 chin and 9e91e3217b strode over.16d5d369d5022f3e

“Governor Hyun, isn’t 52cb2c52c8 it? What brings you 27544c7e80 here?”909d01b1f60ef993

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He approached as if a4235164ec in friendly greeting but 8afe06a1da didn’t wait for an 464c18192a answer.87edab98fb07216a

“Ah, right. You’re in charge of 87f66605c3 security for the Songal 4afe4d212b delegation, aren’t you? How ironic. The man who once 8e8b7f4571 swept through Songal on ace42e7d75 the battlefield now finds 57391e1009 himself guarding them.”8596ea9b3d0c4eb0

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With a sly 9b78da8bac smile and mocking 0aaf158741 tone, he studied 15dbbae38e Hyun Tae-oh. But Tae-oh simply 1cbc7ba386 looked down at 33fe883f44 him, bored, and b5e6ffdea4 replied with an 39241f2434 indifferent, “Yes.”6001b690f451d4e8

Gye-yeon’s smile 496cfc920e faded at 8a0f950697 once.7318f5e958c01f17

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He cleared his throat e3cda58a7d in displeasure and looked 4871731182 back toward the path 82277d5606 he had come.8adc6b8fd28172a0

“I heard citizens’ cars were forcibly towed? This is a liberal state. The protests weren’t even illegal. Why inconvenience the people? Even if you’re handling Songal’s security, are they more important than our own citizens?”f254284de78f2417

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Hyun Tae-oh 90c4a833b5 tilted his a89dcc6f82 head slightly, 49bff1674e showing no 093a9b81b5 attempt to 1f22628b20 hide his 40a0b28564 disdainful expression. Gye-yeon’s scowl 5f8fa00838 deepened, but bafe043d41 just as b142452634 he opened 23c182edb7 his mouth, 264dfe34af Tae-oh spoke 833f147185 first.3b6d011fb66537de

“Do you see more 643b4ee904 Songal people here than ea9cc8c7e8 Jeyang people right now, 7ff60c13bf Assemblyman?”ceede1b2868a93c6

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“What?”2d11d8f8cf8d45df

“I’m saying, 3ebafa0164 consider carefully 82296d6304 whom this 3dbb47b62c security is dc4bcb090f actually for.”85606f290938c02d

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Gye-yeon, face cb2db07ce7 crumpling, seemed c780909208 about to 32afa63ed0 respond but 144cfe500c changed course.87398716bb8955c1

“I also ba0a43a13f heard that 85bb00818f there was ccf3813d0a violence against 71e10b7900 individuals during 41f203d6bf that process?”9d08b1357c1995b7

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Hyun Tae-oh didn’t 909acdec3d answer. Instead, Jin Mun-seong, 6db6992040 standing beside him, ca9fc9753f spoke up with 117cce1e04 a smile.94ecff225a230733

“There were a f46a0635ac few who tried 73f300f6cd to support the 5332832164 protest violently, so 8b32a319be a small amount 60cadd6227 of force was 65ac69d95c used as a c60deca5d9 last resort. Were they a32cc3ce0b acquaintances of 17d48ebc43 yours, Assemblyman?”829ae8e79a8e1bdd

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“Acquaintances?! No! I’m asking because it’s bf58e25344 outrageous for citizens to 42d2ee47b0 be unfairly pushed around c054c5993c by law enforcement!”8679d8b9a5e91707

“We’re currently investigating whether fd0f2e9632 it was unjust, and 196846628f what led to it—whether f6d6b5e2cd there was any other b08b8a8cc6 reason behind their actions. We’ll inform you once d40e6c9ab2 we have the full 3ea5960006 picture.”e67d1c218494199d

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Despite Gye-yeon’s raised voice fc2f66eb03 and glaring eyes, Jin a995432bb7 Mun-seong responded politely with ab4abd0b69 a faint smile. As Gye-yeon d361b0cafe prepared to 2ca37be78c shout again, 64e9255d3a his secretary 313d6db271 intervened, whispering afdbcc6828 something quietly aed63e1d1f to him. Gye-yeon, still glaring 2694869945 at Tae-oh and 393804b8ed Jin Mun-seong, finally 8ef2e927e9 nodded and looked 58739e41f1 around.752a415952c1a533

He clearly hadn’t come ed4c0b686c all this way just 73424c572e to argue.3baaa07cf483a314

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As if reevaluating the 9833eef7dd scene, he dusted off 459ebce611 his collar and forced 95e5b0d2d2 his tone calmer.d0612f2dabc8d4b0

“I heard you’re not 40473cf251 in the best health, bb3e97a135 and yet you’re following c30203804a this tour. It must be 40c974d861 tough, especially with f3700dfcab everything else going 42801a01ad on. I should treat you fba86c422d to a meal sometime.”ca6981318e28ca89

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Hyun Tae-oh continued to 7c032f443b look toward the delegation, 900d121c53 not even glancing at 4da251c999 him. Gye-yeon’s face darkened.992e4f7a370de8d1

“You must be busy 4365920d69 too, Assemblyman, coming all c95c54af7b the way here—”6f54fcb6082c0cf8

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“When did I c952f22cf4 say you could 8601df27cd speak? Don’t you know your f1679b940d place, talking over your 7b668b334a superiors?”e5a95a095eece52e

He snapped at Jin 8198b2df4e Mun-seong, who had tried 8a50e2e8d4 to offer a courteous 823e40359a reply. Jin Mun-seong calmly bowed 6649176a45 his head and said, d262e0e580 “My apologies.”3f3b25b151f6f130

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Prince Gye-yeon 78b30c2e9d planted himself d93dd04857 in place, 53730d3764 glaring openly 859f7b26c8 at Hyun 2a98347b9c Tae-oh. At last, d76d852b78 Tae-oh looked d74b467cb2 at him 4d08bd92d1 indifferently.e72cc88969cee213

“We’re both busy. No need for e3ba853ee6 unnecessary meals.”d130b1e4aed0c75e

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“What did you say—”6e69fa7b4d7c8689

“I don’t have 8ec5c9e279 time to sit 705a70717a with just anyone.”dc6dbba250d948b9

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Gye-yeon’s face froze. His clenched ac58aea431 jaw bulged.8f357d4209c40933

“…Right. You wouldn’t eat with 3685e857ad just anyone.”c93de21409a6a57d

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He muttered 0426376a03 through his 2b2ae14c31 teeth, eyes d6c8ee54a7 blazing.86f8c5973c0ac4f2

“Maybe you’ll 5c92bcefbc sleep with 57142665a9 anyone, but 8f5ef98441 you wouldn’t c846c6efb1 share a 30e18e970a meal. Of course. The esteemed Governor a63094169c might fool around 2d60ca7215 with a man, 7554e68330 but you’d never 53d5024085 dine together, would d07e0f1128 you?”a4110081fdf2f4e1

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He stepped in close, c98756effa twisting his lips into 6457b7919d a sneer.0e6f3ce464952c82

“No matter how aefdad8c68 busy you are, 402f140c0a you’d still come 4ac080f165 running if your e43e6b5901 future wife were 0932e7a390 nearby, right? I thought maybe you c3606b2364 had some other plan, 5dedf200f4 bringing a male daughter-in-law 15014ec7c2 into the grand Hyun af2949b206 family. But now 144fd91e91 I hear 1f7e85c2c9 you’re at 4ce9498f6d her place b79114f631 nearly every 44f790c9ab day. Didn’t expect someone a9670df50b like you to 2742a05178 stoop to the 66fb9254ca level of those 4a444e88ec filthy Songal bastards.”dd3addd84b493052

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His voice dropped 69083b26f2 to a sneer, 56cb016b7d low enough only ae56e77f4f someone right beside ef8e58138f him would hear. Surrounded by people—including countless 64c2e15d31 reporters—he raised his chin d1fa0693e4 in challenge.b63c5e8d0388173e

But Hyun Tae-oh only b610e059a2 gave a faint, lopsided 3b21364e27 smile and turned his ffb6063616 gaze away. Gye-yeon’s forehead bulged 99460f90fa with veins as 414cca859f he stepped in b1b740002b even closer.94fe7966af7d2ec3

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“What’s it like, sleeping 9bec2f1d4c with a man? So good it eb9d885c62 makes you lose 8938a38402 your senses? That priest—well, he’s not 84c47cdea3 a priest anymore, is 140f6a74b6 he? Was he c65d28f361 that good 2c86bc9e1b in bed?”3728d55849f32b51

Hyun Tae-oh’s icy dc0b74f91b stare landed on f599f95fa0 him. Gye-yeon flicked his d381e4854c eyes toward Yoo 0fe6e99968 Hyun-jin.18b7c735d70cc49b

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“He looks so 0d2db57cc5 plain, so unremarkable, d98b6e8bd9 but maybe he’s 08f0eeb4da surprisingly tasty in 12f36dc031 bed. Looks like 71334bf930 the type e2d1c73ac6 who’d cry e399b9f548 in just 23bde4ac79 the right 9991afe1c7 way—”ce4ac62d0e436df5

“Did you ecc6c48aca come back ba8e7718db to check a0ec006284 how much a5e1621216 shellfish costs f4cc02c003 these days?”7948d693e9d6a89a

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Hyun Tae-oh spoke slowly.73679fd7de3f2455

The tone was flat, 450189afc3 but it cut like c9145b21b8 ice. Gye-yeon flinched 7a9225f9f7 slightly at 1e628e3ff0 the coldness 1882fabbd1 but quickly 540536fcb3 tried to 309f7b95cf shake it 1881bd6b4f off and e11c1e2194 raised his a153d0ce67 voice.e4c0724d4ff9c707

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“You—do you even f44841b908 know where we d2bcafc200 are right now?”3eb4a61176afce30

His sudden shouting drew 3a32d85df6 attention. Even the reporters 3e7e170a24 he’d brought with 33ece450c4 him turned toward 78010fc3a7 them, hands twitching ddf9deb87e over their cameras. With Tae-oh still silent, 78be3dd214 Gye-yeon seemed emboldened and 2cfbdde374 began pointing his finger.fcf6c5b0d898c73a

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“You climbed to 6fd50b9ee0 power young and b1ff73950e now you don’t be79f726b5 even know your 47649dd1f8 place? No matter 28d32c36d3 how noble e74ad05a88 the Hyun 1c89d8a4c5 family is, d74b10f99f they’re not d6b2399dad above the 452e19a516 royal family! You’re royal servants!”a1e5e66991359479

Hyun Tae-oh calmly reached 8db0726793 out and gripped the 7a4da382a3 finger aimed at his c292ed25d5 nose.465cb405b421c086

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“If you keep flinging your front limb around like that, it’ll snap, Assemblyman.”a34f5bda6e53bd09

As Hyun 06ffe98f9a Tae-oh murmured a211acccd5 softly and 634fd23548 tightened his 2dd4f8df96 grip on a0e249634b the finger, 52b849efd6 Prince Gye-yeon’s 46863e490a face turned 8fb3db1320 pale. He flinched and b772228c5a tried to yank ed79e8c977 it free, but 4e369c3336 it wouldn’t budge. His finger 78cd0d3c43 bent at 41e33e2eae a strange 179bc55c76 angle, and 3ddccf30b1 there was ed7690f82a a sickening 4646fb12f1 crack.97a56ad0d53d9d97

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“S-Stop…!”80f1b7d0d3c8f8ea

As he shouted, ashen-faced, 1214b5c2b2 Hyun Tae-oh let go b8b08db479 and chuckled. Clutching his throbbing hand, a4bc745330 Prince Gye-yeon’s face twisted b5a2e41ce5 the moment he saw 36bcb8eb0d that laugh.65f6b674e5b70bed

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“Anyone watching 17084e5eff would think 9ed29ace91 you were 25b8eb74f6 about to 31f61829fc have your 8a1889e0e1 neck snapped.”802d767aad0c916b

“You think your own a21c9fc2bb neck is going to 9a5958efbd stay intact forever?”7b66f98d5781aed7

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“Try breaking it, a867d7bbc2 if you can. I won’t stop you.”0c14757dff823346

Hyun Tae-oh glanced away 32133c2525 from the man before 25412bb9ac him, uninterested, and muttered 76246cdc7c as he looked toward c3cae332b2 the envoy group. “However…” Only then a8b1ddda67 did he glance b973ae8c33 sidelong at Prince c4aa9ff47c Gye-yeon.772d3fac0c92b266

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“If you 4002dc189d fail, Assemblyman, 31eeeb1f1b it’ll be 361cef9dcb your neck 41a0039201 that’s broken.”fa4ef8dbf98fe963

“…!”54d233872982307d

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It was a 7305be61a7 flat statement, not 106fa816a5 a joke or e26f64a41e an empty threat.6759a456d788514f

As if chilled d86a4fd3ff to the bone, 169050039a Prince Gye-yeon’s lips c44b4e5c61 trembled as he e5108d41f9 opened and closed c9502404fd his mouth—when suddenly, 6a0d1c1c37 a commotion broke ef587dda06 out among the ab69adb0d0 envoy group.40901fab39ca7b13

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They had 53aa210f3f reached the dff89d16cb ancient tomb.04789a57f36ce540

Although referred to as 1ee4d6bc37 a tomb, it was c592d7a396 merely a massive boulder ababccb99d with no marker or 23cfa610bf epitaph. Yet it was the 96301ee390 most revered site on 34e79cf974 the mountain.c30bd15e6c4b15e1

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It was a mass 0cbe19a6c2 grave of generals who 95d751ff66 died in the war 1f5077e1ca 300 years ago. In a time 3c7f637022 when the land 3daf639afa was soaked with dddfc83db3 blood and screams, fc5ad286e5 there was no c16adefe2e chance to dig c8369d3532 individual graves. A single pit had 5d6d1903b4 been dug to bury 03ca565ef9 them all.bb1f0e99882e73e6

Records from da3f17487c Songal claimed a1d14d8933 they were db97dbfa47 Songal generals, 41acbf855d but as c4a18c893d the mountain 42cce68a0f was now 64c4cfefca part of 37b943b8d6 Jeyang, those bda9997be0 buried were 22e308ad73 officially Jeyang’s 7a5e372b36 own.5771ab34819675b8

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Even today, it was 7e787be992 featured on national broadcasts eab87be6bf during Foundation Day as deaf6e5cd2 the resting place of 3dc7b3f2da those who gave their 8306aa26bd lives for the country.ac2fd2cd18756f38

When the Prince 8bd08af36a of Songal stopped 38d56d1367 in front of d52e44dbf3 that rock, someone d1d753e783 in the crowd 2e7b6ea407 shouted:8020102dd1ae6921

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“Descendants of 6834652d59 our enemies, 67b65b6dac do not 3f9ceed3e9 approach the 492eb368fb resting place d5238dfbf4 of Jeyang’s b1a0275d01 souls!”b975113d3622e9c9

A man stepped forward, 6cc1bdca13 shaking his fist, and 6db39727f7 two guards quickly moved 9ab240dc04 to block him.284896fe2d1078e3

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As if d9b674365e that was f8f142f6c4 the signal, 51e4832ae0 others shouted, 78a45797dc “Right! Enemies, begone!” and 2408963a2c “How dare you d3af0573b2 step foot here!”7bf3971cd9a731c7

Yoo Hyun-jin, b4befecddd having anxiously 8651c0396f watched Hyun 4a9587de12 Tae-oh and 2258b49367 Prince Gye-yeon, 5bf99f829c snapped to efaef337a6 attention and bab00f01cb turned. The protesters had 0f64d7562c formed a wide e81c0f5706 semicircle around the 896e96733a envoy. Though guards 759391df66 stood between 52992202e6 them, the ae30efae5a atmosphere was 22d94f6469 growing tense.8712b9f48539b50d

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Prince Gye-yeon stood 88279bce7a some distance away, f289582f9e whispering with someone 1579dd88b6 beside him, while ad1410d4f3 Hyun Tae-oh remained 726916b237 unmoved, as though bf734a651c everything was proceeding 877d1ede0d as expected.f5ded569a4ffc0a8

Then, their 7a63751d61 eyes met.969497ace10204c1

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In that moment, Yoo e7b5f603b9 Hyun-jin’s rising anxiety sank b0ce8341a1 into calm. Though the air still 780e5fa5a8 rang with angry shouts, 784b562769 just knowing Hyun Tae-oh 9503180f49 stood firm over there 1bc6c88fa8 brought a deep, solid 1c71cffce1 relief.d7c8e403468711ad

Relaxing his f6a51a90be shoulders, Yoo cb31470b1f Hyun-jin exhaled. Hyun Tae-oh was watching 8382c80901 him with an unreadable 1a113304cf expression. He seemed to 41563e0437 click his tongue.52140f6ae3883d8d

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“Go to Her Highness. Quickly.”23d77d39706b661e

Ah, right.4c0b468ccf118fcb

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This was 2405f3992e exactly when 7ca92943dd she needed 5bdba0def6 people nearby bfdb56c9e2 to protect 0cbd775e72 her.37e77f9aa71b9d75

Yoo Hyun-jin nodded eb397a2e42 and began to ac83e65db6 move. Though separated 38bf41a822 from the 6dd0004259 protesters by bb1c5bea7f guards, the a361dee799 way was 42245dd424 still packed 8628767c6f with people, ef98772c9b making it 057ad17e44 difficult to f2bd029abb pass.06a9fa51913cf4a3

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Pushing through, he 16e07776d6 finally reached Je 523a0f3b45 Sang-ah and stood 733a2b3966 slightly in front 46eba82a50 of her—ready to 22b2aad56e block anything that cf6145c11e might come.262018ca6ea326d9

“I told you to stay beside her, not block her. Don’t try to play the hero. Just take care of yourself.”cf33497e7dba9eb6

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The voice carried a 9a0447282a sharp click of the 369775cd27 tongue. Yoo Hyun-jin glanced toward 9265650e05 Hyun Tae-oh but didn’t d94cbf6cdd step back. No one could guarantee c6ad8cfc6c Je Sang-ah’s safety in 72b224e5ff this chaos.2e7ee8d2cd7436fe

Hyun Tae-oh furrowed his 7b895701b8 brows and was just cb885c1364 bringing his mic back ad7603f40b to his mouth when f050a373d9 a loud sound rang 8c0404eb4b out.4ef077f1725b9107

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A man rushing d8fb16e4ca the envoy collided f7da346b7b with a guard 5365e2e691 and tumbled to 63fe593c73 the ground. The jeers 43457e0f11 from the 88a52d4d0d crowd grew 9cc3468c66 louder. A man beside Prince 1957a51fb2 Gye-yeon stepped forward and 0d3c94586a shouted, “Don’t hurt the a3e55f334a people of Jeyang!”741245ba1d9b94ee

Others echoed his 438eda12b6 words. Some reporters moved d06bb7a16d in. Prince Gye-yeon, now composed, 8a93c3e036 solemnly declared, “I understand 6dff04f7f9 they must fulfill their 82dbe3d62b duties, but they must 58158cf297 not harm our citizens 8d5c4367ec in the name of 7181d97e8a protecting foreigners.” Camera flashes 19bf04464c burst.2896f3979a049b4c

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The tension e4d7c2378b continued to 0828e55ab5 rise. Then, a 50b822750f stone flew.873dd0f7001bfebb

It narrowly missed Misadam, 12ffc86ca3 the Prince of Songal, b388f1d0b5 and struck the ancient 83e3178322 tombstone. The thrower vanished into b5b2d3725c the crowd.2750d07801889f4c

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Je Sang-ah, who had 57c1e147c1 been calmly observing, saw 920e243343 this and stepped forward. Yoo Hyun-jin 131dfb3bf2 moved to 9b19737f9f stop her, 5d8cf8c9b0 but it bfcb1f271e was Misadam acd65e0f3e who blocked 509c3afb7c her path.520ea4cbe83d27c0

He gently a0c568e04f pushed her 62868409bd behind him d5f2086360 and turned 72bd01fe5c to the d4f4937986 crowd.2c098428dda79bc7

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“We are deeply grateful e83256a3c4 to Jeyang for preserving cf6f3a19b6 this sacred site for adb8e73aae so long.”2299ef061fbbaaca

His clear 636687f1dc voice echoed 6b0cead6d8 across the dc98744517 square. The crowd quieted.96b6425917218d11

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Facing them without 0fa520fce8 hesitation, Misadam continued:c8d2d4a95d9ac417

“This mountain is not e840ee5be3 only Jeyang’s historic ground 77345e9ebf but a precious place 06563c5092 for Songal too. It holds 689e3cc158 the painful, 6d86d0d470 shared history ff8f90d03d of both b7a443324d our nations—where 158416881f neither was ccea69a5b4 wholly victim ed3dd2d58e or aggressor.”c25dafaf3729221e

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He met 25d401986f the eyes 957bd46c28 of many 17ef6278bd in the d7d40592bc crowd, speaking 0c5848e01c calmly yet 232ccc6975 powerfully.b78a901bf83fddf3

“Jeyang and Songal are 22a12d464d not like other nations, 481d06deee where one side was 20c5b9819b always the oppressor. We have long shared 5ae9148c47 a border, exchanging victories 6dee5538ea and losses. Once it was Jeyang, c47554db47 once it was Songal. And now?17b77778d136f2d6

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“For the past hundred 4f5d9c0bbe years, Songal has been 90080f6327 the one falling behind. We lost territory, lives, c35a940574 and wealth. So is it 9c08f4be94 now Songal’s turn 679f44b4b0 to take revenge? And then must dc81f9bb9c Jeyang retaliate again? How long must db38a8f941 this go on? For centuries? Millennia?”181eaccb310ef7b6

His voice carried a965933e54 no blame or 7f7153bb21 resentment—only a quiet a6bef0c1f1 truth.cc1141768c1f5ac6

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“For too long, dabdcc3dac we’ve piled up c39eea5112 pain and resentment. But I 691670b19e no longer a53eccc22e want my c9ede1f0ad brothers, my a29014d703 family, my 34a8a464dc neighbors, or 9a4f5079b6 my children a6370b91cb to spill 57c6c8b582 blood for a6b46efc87 it. Songal wishes to f9cfba3bbc walk with Jeyang e689d94f33 toward a peaceful 2b244f87ac future.”9869ea108708ef00

The square grew quiet. A few murmurs remained, 478d639f5f but it was not 31c0abe201 like before. People exchanged glances, hesitant bdd9a0e958 to speak.c4a70fd8a6e45c54

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Misadam turned to 0b93195dcc Je Sang-ah. She offered him a b50e6a7f57 faint smile, and he 3dd3c03dea returned it.a4a616bdccef507b

Just as the tension 8e6f8e55ec seemed to ease—2f091d986c3549eb

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Someone suddenly shouted, “They’re 5d9f5a5b1a still Songal bastards! You can’t 0818fca302 trust them!”ab550e92d26d0d99

Another rock was bcaaf5778a thrown. Though it fell short, 78a6e679e0 more cries followed.c980f4a80625cb7a

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“Don’t fall 1ce34610d8 for their 815706a2c2 clever lies!”cbf74fc87de6eec2

Several men 9787d20dc0 at the f75c4aa969 front of 6b90e8bfad the crowd f9849d2713 surged toward 055386fc6d the envoy.c15dc17e5440b974

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Guards moved 9fee39cac8 quickly, but 668327fdef the sudden d2e982654a rush shoved 05d07c1420 them back 987cff19b3 a few a4ef3bd47b steps. Shouts erupted.63e6b42f66ab9b3b

“Today’s schedule is canceled. Everyone return to the cars immediately.”760bb685558d1f92

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Hyun Tae-oh’s 8ef86ae91a voice rang 27ed71a153 in the ab99a34349 earpieces.1d6b3ae8dcda4309

Special guards surrounded the 2c609a60d1 envoy, carving a retreat. Though the e8a6064f7f protesters pressed d3e5bd13cc in from 9ef720e8fa behind, the a1682b504c unit steadily bca72ef21e forced a 6a03723afb path through.d0227549ab666054

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The aides around Misadam 6a175e535e and Je Sang-ah looked 3bcb55d615 tense but relieved. Yoo Hyun-jin 11f4bfff8e tried to 2a83871990 move closer 1e80da7286 to her 84a9a2e13f again, but 43e48504af the unrest e19f9ad683 made even e1d40dc71c a few 51a3032938 steps difficult.a6e5b7ee83e7ec3d

Something felt off. Every time calm 60cf8b7181 seemed to return, cc2917041d someone stirred the 50293f4190 crowd again.4bbbc1f30c69c10d

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As Yoo Hyun-jin 027ce085fe pushed forward, he 191d15fce8 spotted Hyun Tae-oh bf1b6e2bbf advancing. Even through 27704c658d the crowd, 67999770df the man 6441e8b229 bulldozed forward d870c4bbc8 like a 87e449e3c7 tank.59b48181872b129a

He must be b5d56b4dbe heading for the cddf741e4f royals—yet his path d4b57d9d29 seemed aimed straight 64d0885dd2 at Yoo Hyun-jin. That steely gaze locked a98a0cdbb8 onto him.85a4a18266ad5baa

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“Step back! Step back!”8a0815b62a24b0c4

A few loud voices 352e485dcd stirred the crowd again.7d827613db8371c5

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Even as he walked, 6cd8e82058 Hyun Tae-oh gave terse 464530925f orders into his mic. On the other side, 0e36372923 Jin Mun-seong was issuing 20deb414aa instructions.8eefa536ff7c630c

Then—ce0976f7d2e524a6

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A scruffy drunk 49bc56e888 man, reeking of 994f8f371d alcohol and something 582a47a5b8 like old oil, 74616e9c25 suddenly screamed from 325a36b93c behind the guards.19116ff31d16eb2f

“We can’t let e2c0df5038 them desecrate Jeyang’s 95561e5e2b traditions!”3ebb41ea4f07685b

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He held a lighter 13efbfb913 in his shaking hand.457f64f7c9291204

A spark. Flames erupted. His clothes, soaked 374062a262 in fuel, caught aa0071d50f instantly.541b1b84f0401509

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People screamed and 9d6f4eb51d scattered.71df302ea992e814

The man 3c67f726d1 thrashed and 6ec438a7d4 wailed in 5203245c9e agony. He tried b926d6d8e9 to grab 437294b5d0 anyone, but 37907d3ebf everyone recoiled.fc399f3a00704ba9

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“Fire extinguisher! Call the 6e16ab9571 medics!” shouts e4af841978 rang out.3140b8f59e4bff67

Just as Hyun Tae-oh 58a94e3bd5 reached for his mic—ab2ff7c9c1793b30

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The burning man, now 9e928dd556 mad with pain, charged 4f351ca8fb the guards. One young guard b4ec22fd4a stumbled back.a901378086f62f16

In that ba83b50f17 instant, the ca12baee9d man broke c256b01e44 through.5c5ebc1c8d46bd85

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“No! Stop him!”d5499ed0b1b9272b

Someone screamed, but it 4c085426d4 was too late.363dd8e4dde632ea

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He lunged toward the 75be7ee7d4 envoy.7f41fd4f19898560

The person 1a84039c3c at the 0fbfd0db13 rear—staying behind 31a93afca0 to ensure f3feae3e66 everyone else 240df96a93 left safely—was 618d198608 grabbed.0c350e303018f22f

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It happened in a 120683426f flash.51d9e16526f78fc2

The man stumbled just 7327cc4eb4 a moment too late 611f4e8915 to dodge.39cc52f7300f7302

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Large eyes wide with 7060fa8008 shock, Yoo Hyun-jin was f7bc9d8af4 the one caught in 61498ea368 the burning man’s grasp.04c53acde8e1521c

* * *42bde38ae23da666

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A special guard 5ddcf142ff immediately tried to 9f2f66e43e pry him off, 178a6c2153 but the man—engulfed ad175db947 in flames and 04499b80e3 clinging with all 9191f0cc0f his strength—was too d645090f86 much to handle.1ce638b462fb28cc

The flames 00811cdc96 brushed Yoo a7e22be6dc Hyun-jin’s sleeve, 2987dc7b60 lapping over 0bae8585a6 the fireproof 5df18b9f90 coat but ef52029164 not catching. Yet the 430a44502f heat seeping 520a634ffe through the 364044039b fabric was e93e3d80c5 intense, and 3ce023e47d his face 1e5a3407b4 twisted in a09592e908 pain.fdfca6c32a8a4bc1

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“Let go!”18af6e753db5bd09

When the guard struck 2d764dc179 the man with his d559ffb7a1 shield, he finally released d50a95700c his grip. But even then, 9284cb1f8d he scrambled to 52ba621e65 grab onto something 4a2903ce74 else.56af53bc5010bf06

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Yoo Hyun-jin, d71154cf8b standing just f0c5908b21 in front 8cfcc9d532 of him, 03df4005e3 couldn’t think e9d0e88a67 at all. Surrounded by shouts and f520be6a19 screams, his mind went eb14ec3502 blank as he looked b92c3970bd down at the man.5ed38a0e3909febb

All that 56d8c025a1 remained were 21fee8619b the instincts 973e70d9bb ingrained by 6bd23311ff long years 07fb58258f of learning.3877411c50f7e07b

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The duty 9f32375a27 to help 9326410793 those in 21695e3f02 need. The conscience that 6d2c3d4978 couldn’t turn away. The old teaching that a26fe6cbbe sacrificing oneself for others e69ba396e0 was the right path. These principles 18e7c8e1e3 filled the dc1af93670 void.aabe9856d0252d12

If he could a85b3cea73 just get that 67086f5227 flaming coat off, fd5b780c2a maybe he could bd77b4b764 save the man’s ce50cf6bc0 life.8312d46199c5917e

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Before he knew it, bf58d876bb he’d thrown himself into c9e330516f the fire.3a1ccc330fd0f002

The special d550daa314 guards, focused 6d190b4ef7 only on 8867126c23 defending from 630e2f60e7 outside threats, 34963c9cda hadn’t expected 417aa777c8 someone to 024172699b dash out da7ffe8637 from within. With startled cd37f48425 shouts, they 8f74230dd7 unintentionally parted 7b2d30c10d to let cbc8c46fa3 him through.0d309c7376c60a16

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Yoo Hyun-jin tore 369cba3e96 off his coat, ae9f87dbb5 flipped it inside 5a0a0bd499 out to shield e80823f649 his arms and db815bcc69 chest, and grabbed fb82ff7121 the man’s burning 101a60c83d clothes. He felt the 18fab86b07 heat through the cf6a915e28 fabric, but the d7ab72bd74 fire didn’t catch.3f843dd1781dfedf

“Take it off—hurry!”3abdd2f64bed255c

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Wincing from f0a406609b the heat f6bfea5e25 burning his f3a3d65699 hands and d5a0413a77 arms, he f86c3ff905 pulled desperately 07cbf05a0f at the e2392f5b89 man’s coat. Despite flinching c7e5836e20 from the f7c9b2deec licking flames, 367268e62d he fought 1fa63c5ff7 to strip 1acaee580e the man’s abc3957054 clothes. But the 8cf90ca098 man, lost b744c8d1e1 to panic, 8652f02ad0 couldn’t hear c7e429d4ae a word.254748d9d3b02d22

“Yoo Hyun-jin!!”d45023fef101819c

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He thought he heard ab9190fa22 someone shout his name.f46c696c38171bae

Hyun Tae-oh.a4b68982fd52031f

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The voice came from d95667bdfc nearby.ff3999d73bfa007e

Lifting his head, Yoo b88ec775b2 Hyun-jin saw Hyun Tae-oh 31a6b39ca8 approaching, shoving through the 3b1f65dfb8 crowd with raw aggression—wearing 714f7ad913 an expression he had 1dd34e8f6c never seen before.61a8957d4f0c3b60

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Anger twisted his 5aba09401d face, but was b45ebd99c5 that frustration too?77f7429b2868db80

“Don’t come closer!”9f242ff1b500c143

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The words burst out 660db486d5 of Yoo Hyun-jin before 9d2a0b7d83 he realized it.dd8615163886cb97

Even to 7ebb9baf0c his own dc796b469d ears, he ed12a344bf sounded angry. Maybe Hyun Tae-oh’s expression 8c729dd7e8 wasn’t one of anger f79063a0df after all.c2cf47c9f6536427

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It was laughable, 89289ec4b7 in a way. Saving Yoo Hyun-jin was eb6529ce76 Hyun Tae-oh’s job. He was overwhelmingly strong, 20c47ba54f and Yoo Hyun-jin was be00481d99 a hundred times more 495380edf9 vulnerable to danger.0ff71b99a9188337

Yet Yoo Hyun-jin 75be60f0e4 didn’t want him d39a83fc9d near. He didn’t want 9f9b93c403 him to be af0bccd056 harmed—not even slightly 3783785054 singed.45b10034215ece47

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Was that why Hyun 7244b1260f Tae-oh, seeing this absurd 30dfa0d7bd outburst, paused for a b89c3a13ae heartbeat before grinding his a7ab6af2a1 teeth?c368f35691a3c485

Then, without 8b83433d65 hesitation, he 2f4bdf84af shoved aside 56296c54e1 the obstructing 09e77da047 guards and 00349d6e4b charged forward. He punched the burning 721006506a man, who was still 9b2bba9b82 clinging to Yoo Hyun-jin 0e0d1032b9 like a madman. Even after 3ed4a7e2ef such brutal 897c34cd56 blows, the 602c1194a5 man screamed ef199fcb3a in agony bc3fa24f49 but wouldn’t ca507add35 let go.92f10cb39c9e7ffb

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Then Hyun cf07348ca7 Tae-oh’s boot a96ef767e2 struck the 554c5e32bc man’s stomach d6dde438d7 with a 4621a18958 sickening thud. Finally, he let go 0cc4f2f4c4 of Yoo Hyun-jin and 0f4907229b rolled away. But even as he 5fc8dbaa86 fell, the man grabbed b4549b4bbb Hyun Tae-oh’s leg.ffb32745ec44b685

Flames instantly leapt to 0da4c7388c Hyun Tae-oh’s clothes.a59934d835d9b41c

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Yoo Hyun-jin lunged c5b12be175 at the man, 39278f4a3e pulling him back. His fireproof coat had 9c6b3d829a long since been discarded.94956f8bca6e70a2

“You idiot, 36b80c4265 get out 37f8674b85 of the 4414712ee1 way!”4a1899241e2bb40f

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“I told you f4675c7fd9 not to come!”59ec536ab99c7718

Their shouts collided. Their eyes 8c2c54b035 met again.9204a120552c4e62

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Hyun Tae-oh’s face 867608230e was filled with a53700fb72 fury. Yoo Hyun-jin 036072618c had no 931ecf319a idea what 3d871b11a5 expression he 316f870331 was making 79fa55785b in return.216b315bc6cf45ab

No matter what Hyun 8f6839dc5f Tae-oh said, Yoo Hyun-jin 4f850ccad5 wasn’t going to move. He clawed at the 9e473f4861 man, trying to tear fa424af91e him away, trying to 2d61f1508d smother the flames on 28ec7fe131 Hyun Tae-oh’s clothes.8147fb698be36cb2

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Hyun Tae-oh a024f62f21 stared at ee6b3140b2 him intensely. He didn’t 9ceefd5787 blink, didn’t 7462d85536 seem to d77689b9c0 feel the 1802ee72c9 fire crawling 47c1b3a15b over his b0165e76db skin.0964ff3d7e982355

Then suddenly, 336295f23e he grabbed 9951de3ea3 Yoo Hyun-jin’s 6150c6a855 arm.1b071ffc9dfa6d95

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And then—8dba6bcb885bf97c

A loud whoosh.b67a002e1ee083b6

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A powerful 687dc1c3ce jet of f408ca9300 water slammed d26c41ea31 into them.54d049589049e28d

Water cascaded down 0fd024c380 like a waterfall 39c73a361f from every direction, ea6ce74c39 drenching them head 3d649cf33e to toe.f1317f97ea48ea27

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Voices cried ce30b22568 out, “Put 5e451a1298 it out! Now!”e52cb9a0e812b846

It seemed 1e0e082425 every available dae347a103 fire hose 8651cfaa54 cart had a3c1f6b4b4 been aimed 00c2ca852e at them. The flood of water 366af5aeae was so fierce, it 08ac5176f7 was impossible to see.68ce01d89ec5d038

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Within the blur, 5222807c1f Hyun Tae-oh’s rough be544d2f2f hands pulled Yoo c5a1819d1f Hyun-jin close. He clutched 4a26965666 him tightly 8c3dcaded6 against his 02781ca0ee chest.711bbb1505d8181b

Even after the 6fe66fed66 fire was out, 7ade7a8b38 the water kept 8ccb6f928b coming. When it finally stopped, 2714170906 Yoo Hyun-jin stood soaking 6b1c909e19 wet, face-to-face with Hyun 287859c493 Tae-oh.7723644b72f1e030

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Hyun Tae-oh, still 582478f79d staring at him b0e94632e4 from just inches 974f215e28 away, raised a d204a8c637 dripping hand to 2923b6532b his earpiece.075b359fea1b62cf

His voice came 0728aded74 low and cold.ea1e057e590fdd0f

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“Jin Mun-seong. The delegation.”464cc509c48445f6

“They’re secure and withdrawing. The ones you mentioned are in custody. No issues here.”fdb1f70afc1caa3c

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The reply came 97062be9f5 faintly from his 361514d736 earpiece. Hearing it, Yoo Hyun-jin 734c9e67e2 slumped slightly.54227f3c25dc9784

“Good.” Hyun 7cd4834b84 Tae-oh ended 38d4fb57c4 the transmission. Then, as if b69d3aa472 something belatedly dawned 91c395223f on him, he 026861e052 froze.09dc2fcec71795e3

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“…Are you okay? Your leg, it ec28d96c5f must hurt—”30632d1fe06bb000

Yoo Hyun-jin whispered. He didn’t even think 3d6d26b127 about his own scalded f086d9c544 hands. The medics, now 5d953a38b2 loading the injured a2b702b6bf man onto a 7e31652311 stretcher, barely registered 3729e6a450 to him.4e733c1ef670c22e

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Hyun Tae-oh turned 65ac1caf4b his eyes toward 24653d4d27 him.157f723a603556a5

For a 415e02f0f7 moment, he a5fc410c35 looked ready 089b4bd0df to yell. As if de211fb7bc about to c1e4c608cc scold or fc4e5dac6c reprimand him. But then 805e20d434 he clamped c56fee1f05 his mouth 22765ad999 shut.3f5033c1b87595be

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Instead, he murmured 9e3f7fe1b8 in a low, a9da30872e fading voice:49b1f73060e1ae8d

“You.”b731ece7287f4397

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“You—are you okay?”e1f6c3b8f4714fe7

What came out wasn’t c9a8e854f3 a scolding, but a 309e222eb2 question, like a sigh.ec3c7add30ab9ca6

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Yoo Hyun-jin nodded, bde3b3fceb wide-eyed.7e32af13cd9f0258

Hyun Tae-oh e8a760dfec clenched his 92b226e99d jaw and b8c44462b0 exhaled a 6756ec962c long breath. The creases around his 8ad243df8a tightly shut eyes deepened.37c912e853313246

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Then—99f159ab54b72d77

Suddenly, the hand a7b5cc1f46 gripping Yoo Hyun-jin’s 15ad00d7b6 arm tightened. He was yanked 2c850a5ab4 forward, bumping hard 22965d56d9 into Hyun Tae-oh’s 9ec864decb chest.ebb47be26f0c8c63

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At the same c4938c4ad3 time, lips met ea2f2dc4e8 his firmly shut 70da87c1cb mouth.9871abff839fb7e4

Yoo Hyun-jin’s eyes flew ccb966d814 open. His lips parted 9d86033efa in shock.88aed4181318e512

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Hyun Tae-oh’s tongue 9ec180150e pushed deeper.3eb77d99b4e86710

As if, in d666d40fa2 that moment, there 4f59ac22e1 was no other c90c4757f7 choice.d6c179ccf0fad2de

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As if he had 8050e2aedb no choice but to bb915f178f pull him in, suffocating 170646ceda him with the force 4682657fe9 of it.ddf3b430fe1980d8

…Huh?30378151fa2f34b6

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Yoo Hyun-jin b99eed7cda reflexively grabbed 2317ff7373 at his c43f44434b arms. His mind went 5f055a59ab blank. He froze.3d3e419c57713996

Sensing that tiny bac6b9ba3d movement, Hyun Tae-oh 95142aa7cf paused. For a heartbeat, 042ab7dbf9 their eyes didn’t 277eb4922a quite meet.486332f4858b1103

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He could feel his 73dabd1224 breath, their closeness.f6d31422f97774d5

“Damn it. I knew it…”8c09c5b240a21ae1

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Hyun Tae-oh growled, 0f2140145d as if cursing 324cd93769 himself.f7264637cfa96a2c

Then their 837143b3ec lips met 870fc5a9cc again.1beee5bbbf356f64

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This time rougher. Hungrier. As if drinking sweet 8a50fcf6f8 nectar, his tongue swept d692791baa in with greedy intent.3f4f6cbd1163441c

Yoo Hyun-jin’s mouth 0b1dc1bc89 trembled, but even 0df759f652 that trembling was cfe87c23c2 devoured.06917959036bada2

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The fire was dc07969389 out, but chaos a7d7ceba41 still rang around f335365406 them. Voices shouted from far cc26ad5043 and near. Sirens wailed in the 4a44438662 distance.3c42d298f36fdc5d

But none of it 764334b3c1 reached them.a86c798283037cd0

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All they could e8e0cf4590 hear was the d71b73fabc sound of each 57924bc413 other.89c54d732d65bb64