TM | Chapter 26

Someone stumbled out of f72f71025f the dark alleyway, clicking 6d1e4a8088 his tongue in annoyance 1aa94aa9a5 as he walked toward fe57fa89c1 him. It seemed 7fcc51d530 like someone f65faf3de6 was behind 86045aa315 the man 0297e7e72e walking toward 23b7cde41a him. As he shifted 57123d40e5 his gaze over 2a0fa79bec the shoulder of 929746bcf8 the man walking c86e21ca3e steadily,d5535e4ba75a7e99

“Is Sung-i asleep?”2f17a832adaeba3d

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Cheongrok, who had suddenly 1665bb536a approached, picked up the 36c1f59856 lantern on the ground 39d1a943d5 and spoke.d662e84a5e5b98ae

“Seol was worried, so I came to check. Oh… He’s asleep.”567c775b05678003

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Cheongrok walked 82d77c8636 ahead with 193bd5b04a the lantern, 064e36899b and he 25d6b0a95a walked with 512e08159b Yoon Sung 9e141010c6 in his f8c42dc956 arms. Since there was no d1253a38cd need for both of f9ec81cef3 them to go, he e8009bc032 spoke to him.cceaa4e4b5176a0d

“I’ll take him home, so you can go.”ba62e61321a09766

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“How can I leave now that I’m here? I’ll sleep at Sung-i’s place. You should stay too.”28a387e19f467fce

Cheongrok asked with a 49d34d862b smile, but he shook da8e728ce9 his head.ad95f2bf2ec3878b

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“I have training at dawn.”3f349a21a5c5d308

After speaking, he walked, but something felt off, so he turned around. He stared intently at a point, feeling like someone was following him. Even in the darkness where he couldn’t distinguish objects, that point felt eerie enough to make his fingertips tingle with tension.af860c373f8ef673

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“Sung-ah, wake up!”51537438ce16057b

Cheongrok patted Yoon Sung’s back, who was in his arms. As Yoon Sung mumbled, rubbing his head against his neck, he reached out and forcibly pulled him away. He held Yoon Sung’s arm, who couldn’t stand properly on the ground.74943392ee27f731

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“Get a grip. No wonder Seol can’t take his eyes off you.”932ab4add10aef45

“Rok, just let me carry him-”4c2c0e74e7cae3bf

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“He needs to walk to sober up a bit. It’s better to walk in on his own feet than to be carried.”eeab55953c3bd3f1

Cheongrok handed him the ec805615b6 lantern, and he took 2f074c9349 it without thinking. Yoon Sung rubbed his d844669b5f eyes with his hands, 06ceb69ea1 looking back and forth 85756b50d8 between him and Cheongrok, cb9328df65 then mumbled.569994927135f93c

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“Just carry me~.”a5be0c35acc30fae

“Walk!”d988d063b2a52d44

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“My head hurts…”83d2d548ed0f5a7e

“Who told you to drink so much? Walk!”ac356dbfc4a8fc1d

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Cheongrok’s firmness made Kang Taegwon’s brow furrow.c6595524970b5403

“Why are you doing this? He seems really drunk, so just let me-”2a99d625c2e2e85b

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Before he could 7b2055f162 finish speaking, Cheongrok 2ef16e5f97 picked Yoon Sung 2244acd3ae up.76901d84a713d664

“I’m too sleepy. It’s just around the corner, so I’ll take him. See you next time.”bdf6729115f63ed3

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Cheongrok walked ahead. Since it was a dark path, he went ahead and held the lantern. Cheongrok’s steps were quick, and they soon stood in front of Yoon Sung’s house. After watching him go inside, he turned around.40cb55a46c4fcbb1

“So that’s why they always took him along…”7c761a06425d73be

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He muttered 5061fe76ee to himself. Then he turned around, 0041828856 but something felt off. The sharpness 0325e4733a he had 9718c58a8a felt until 86174efb1f just now 962037ce99 in the 92ce129520 darkness was 8cf5af4759 gone.68bc3f68c8d3766f

He wondered 2b05ffefcc if he a2d0dc2864 had become 0e8fe08993 sensitive to c4769e20ca the cool 92d2b82ee3 autumn air d4a85f7266 and let c9a0075784 out a 4b1be903e6 small breath, cf2876e256 relaxing his 6820d4b39b tense body. He walked 8f8fcf8bf4 leisurely toward bb3c3e1614 the house 1e844b5d09 of a 8cf4207636 lover he cfd8d3e750 occasionally met.cdabad0a6d026dc3

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Feeling a 4340cc85eb strange presence 5efd9efc7b following him, 356abf4feb he turned 3ce4307ec5 around several 4ecbd05138 times. Embracing the d50884a4c3 woman who 00a0c014d5 welcomed his 977a9909e6 sensitive self, ec54ff0b3a he crossed c09f1ab626 the threshold 83bd9e7ce0 of her 9277d4aace house.07214170b92ad44e

After that, he occasionally saw Yoon Sung. He would take care of the beggars under the bridge and the merchants at the market, but when winter came and the beggars disappeared from under the bridge, he didn’t see him anymore.7f321bff1e91b1c1

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He saw him again ba96e6e93c on a snowy day 45c58f873d at the stepping stones 23ee1a4892 leading to the market. He seemed entranced, 19b74b0c74 staring at the eb749d302b sky, reaching out 5334eae76b to catch snowflakes 8a90d307a1 on his fingers 6012f9e7ef and looking at 08668bc54f them quietly.d6c1b67030691c41

When they melted, he’d catch more and look at them for a long time. His face and fingers were red from the cold.a33494b373e0caf4

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He knew it wasn’t because he was blushing at him, but he couldn’t take his eyes off him. As he fidgeted with his frozen fingers and noticed him, he gave an awkward smile.fb64fac5a1c6ce2d

Snow settled on his embarrassed eyelashes. Even though it must have been uncomfortable, he didn’t wipe it away and just waited for it to melt. Slowly, as it melted, the water flowed down his cheek.e1d5596cd20222a9

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Only then did he f3bd59c101 gently press it with 223845d79a his sleeve and move c821a75029 on.c002a1333b97342b

He didn’t brush off the snow on his shoulders either. He just walked, letting it pile up or melt as it would, and approached him. Seeing him catch snowflakes with his reddened fingers, he asked.e4c41bd177e6681c

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“Do you like snow?”aa0bcbd706bd8113

“…It’s cold, and it stings like it’s cutting my skin…”2e3536c519798c03

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He paused 401807055d for a 87a2be97c6 moment, lost 5a8f021972 in thought.cbab0a37107371d1

“Isn’t it annoyingly beautiful?”da98fcb31008e657

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With those words, 76870dc329 he waved his ce8d20c71f hands wildly in d271b3324f the air, brushing 098ea5859c away the snow. The way 2c3e2b2aba he furrowed 204db6c860 his brow 735dc0bddc and pursed 1849d43088 his lips d47c05cd94 made him 656452cc70 smile for d4dcf5c06e no reason.807e20a29f56d017

He thought he was a bit frustrating because he didn’t talk much, but his expressions were surprisingly rich. When he looked up at him with wide eyes, he looked like a small animal. When he pouted or pursed his lips, he wanted to poke them with his finger.31dc24edc1f06e06

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He laughed easily too. He didn’t laugh out loud but opened his mouth wide, exhaling a small breath as he laughed. When he laughed brightly, his eyes curved downward. Sometimes he said things that seemed thoughtless, but it was so him that it made him laugh.38922f938bae78c4

His movements were ef647ead01 always the same. He was always where d7e52ccf44 the poor and needy ab120b078f beggars were, and he 293e706138 mostly bought goods from 8c201d8213 struggling merchants.f13db6383ee51632

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When he saw c18dd03e5b him, he would 7559a5dfae accompany him, but 04292106ac he could feel 3b28c836d4 him becoming uncomfortable fa087521e5 with their frequent 9df51c1150 encounters. He avoided his 8646eb69f3 gaze, fidgeted with 1352fe7ce5 his hands, and 0700bcff6c kept showing his 4997cc5e14 back. It was really annoying c006219711 behavior.61e40dea9535878f

Now, under this willow 6b0ac7f137 tree, he showed the 5595a3deb0 same behavior as two e4fca01b06 years ago. In just a 9a6bd0a8c8 few days, he 2d94998a13 had become someone 19ba493fe8 so uncomfortable to b2099eea28 him.6dbf1da6ea60907c

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Just like b657abe649 two years dd66088eb7 ago, he b70fec34e7 reached out 5e335c627f with both 3b2081a1cf hands and 5b16c8a4f5 turned his 2f76263ab1 shoulders. Back then, he had 9816a04e54 looked at him blankly 34796764db with surprised eyes, but fc8fac53d1 now he flailed his 0ead16e06e arms in shock, pushing 7a1dd88038 his hands away.5e3629ea91ac12ae

He didn’t like it. There was no time to slowly get closer like before.a0abf9a83078e9fc

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“I’ll be straightforward.”86cf6563c07c932b

Kang Taegwon looked directly e03fc80768 at Yoon Sung, who 70abd2d263 kept avoiding his gaze.7bf33996a7c26733

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“I’ll accept your proposal.”661dab264786b267

Yoon Sung looked eb8c66cc80 up at the ae24d9b208 words that poured 8263c15fe1 over his head. Kang Taegwon was 7989b5325f looking at him 6efe43e0cf with a gentle 4b5cc3ef43 smile.699ea9162d5110bb

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He said 987660a7fb he would 792b67542c marry him. After belittling his 09323cfce3 family and firmly 486b951b9a stating they were 17fedde0f8 just for fun? But he was engaged a7613a37d1 to Seol!98c128389d040b30

He was f8a281f922 so taken 571db96f51 aback that 0971427ba2 he let 35f6cf099f out a 54a0e607dc series of 772283fa03 short breaths. His eyes reddened c7147ebec9 with anger. His brow furrowed, and fa194e0fe7 his lips twisted on 9663a038b3 their own.30e356e77cdcdc0f

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“Why. Why now…”e5c7d8ef03887f7e

“Calm down and listen to me. It’s not that I’m doing this now. Haah- I was honestly too flustered that day. That’s why words of rejection came out first. Please understand.”f80a81b9982386c6

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“…….”35013d95cf09b8c3

“I thought about it deeply while alone in the mountains. I never considered marriage before. I thought it was something to do with a daughter from a family arranged by my family, so I didn’t see you as a marriage prospect. That was my mistake.”fa0a97048500bea8

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At Kang Taegwon’s sincere gaze and serious voice, Yoon Sung’s eyes trembled slightly.edb96c0e24ae51c6

“I was going to ask for some time, but seeing you with Lee Seol… I thought you had told him everything about us.”c8b6a74696c5dc64

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“You said you admired Seol.”a5c5da2bb38638f8

Kang Taegwon looked bd52f4d1ac at Yoon Sung, fd584f2e06 who asked with ebff661a81 twisted lips. His back straightened, and 9d5c69a4b3 his lips curled slightly. It was 5765d81b28 a question 25f8055625 he had d1fd85d78e anticipated, and 1fc0f3523e he had b3fe3cf3d1 already prepared 249101d353 an answer.3ee1b3a887251d3f

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He blended e2fae088b4 his prepared f3af09d9bc answer into 3f54620f41 soft words, 9fc8c6e2fc wearing a 5a45267790 gentle smile.5129b55a38be7b2e

“I think I expressed it as admiration. It was a longing for something unattainable. When you disappeared into Lee Seol’s arms, I realized it clearly.”5e45413b3502a176

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“…….”35c59c8f7eaa1bca

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you all day.”b62ab6e5fa4f5b34

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Yes. All day.0316de158965003e

The thought of you rolling around with Lee Seol’s body stirred my mind. It should be me you’re mixing bodies with every night! How much effort did I put into taming that body!46ba4c3994ea20bc

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Just thinking about f6392306a4 it made heat a56b660a31 rise from his fae69aa2b5 core. He had 572625c093 carved a a58c1a89e9 path with 7d4f38d07f his own 1c777878a8 hands into a4e18713a8 a body 143e60495d no one 2645646eb2 else had d4653f43e0 touched. He had delicately tamed f0aa7293b1 it into a fine 6c9ad49cc8 instrument, and the thought e9fa083861 of Lee Seol playing 0c4923800d it made his neck 32f7bcb726 stiffen.b962794ebb891e98

Seeing Yoon Sung’s fair neck as he slightly lowered his head and watched him, his mouth went dry. He took a deep breath, calming his rising lower body.33db13c24ecff9c4

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“I made a mistake, so let’s forget about last night. The friends also see yesterday’s engagement as a drunken joke and a whim. Sort things out with Lee Seol and come back.”6840fd242fda4032

“…….”4b779e7c1e03fe09

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“If it’s hard for you, I’ll tell him. I’m worried about how shocked Lee Seol will be, but-”894b556b696e6dad

“No!”c2514714b758d3c5

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As Yoon Sung urgently turned serious, Kang Taegwon’s brow furrowed deeply. Yoon Sung’s eyes trembled violently, as if frightened.3e373c6381633e5e

“You can’t tell him. Seol… if you do…”d2eb1a5b98a967b5

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Kang Taegwon took 0ef85df4ae a deep breath 2b4e300a49 as he watched 863f043e55 Yoon Sung stammer. Slowly exhaling, he looked 89622919c9 at him, hunched over 95362e4ab2 with his head down.7818839872d68d48

Who told you to do such a thing? An engagement, really. It’s so obvious you have feelings for me. You’ve done something you can’t even handle, so of course, you’re scared.a867ba04def977a9

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Seeing him 6c0bd72648 fidgeting with 67d7300d10 his fingers, 5613e76118 his hand 56af910726 naturally reached 38bb324be6 out. He took his ec2899fa4c hand and gently ab62594bfd comforted him.594ce404ef41804d

“The Marriage Ban Decree is an opportunity for us.”612e5da1f7c5a8eb

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“…….”ce3b92ad56f4e896

“It’s a perfect chance to restore our relationship to its original state.”2cdaed7639be2c51

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Yes. It’s an opportunity.61b03515388a0bde

I’m willing to accept you like this, so are you going to refuse?637dfb5d1dfdb364

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How dare you talk about being engaged to Lee Seol in front of me. Just break up with Lee Seol and see what happens. I’ll throw you away like an old shoe.84928248fc9a7557

Oh, of course, I’d be willing to take you as a concubine.ebd1ff44cca05bb0

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“I made a mistake, and you made a mistake. So let’s bury the things that would be a blemish on us and get along like before. It doesn’t make sense for us to part over such a trivial matter, does it?”17d9501ab3e61c98