CTL 40

Yoongeon left for the border on the day of Seohwi’s wedding.

It was because of a deal with the king. He had sworn to die there. It was only right that a general praised more than the king be used in such a way. If he did not want to be framed as a traitor, and thus did not want his family to be annihilated, he had to do so. It was proper to be murdered under the guise of a glorious death.

Of course, Yoongeon was not interested in things like the annihilation of his family or fate.

He fought and thought. Now that I’ve connected him with the most precious woman in the world, won’t he be happy now? He had clung to me and said strange things because of the affection from being raised together, but I did not doubt that he would soon adapt and, as was his way, build a sound family and become a good husband.

So, when his worn-out heart could bear it no longer, Yoongeon deliberately dropped the sword he was holding.

As his neck was being cut, he thought. I’ve done this much for you, so please be happy in this life too. Build a family with the one you love, don’t be pointed at by others… live like that. That was why the enemy general, who held the head of Yoongeon that had been severed and fallen to the ground, raised the head of the man who had closed his eyes with a faint smile, and then his face contorted in a grimace.

Seok Chan-mun, who was the enemy general at the time, was enraged to realize he had been defeated by Yoongeon, but he also knew there was no other way, so he swallowed the bitter humiliation. To Seok Chan-mun, Yoongeon was a man who brought a sense of hopelessness like an insurmountable, high mountain, and a man who was as intimidating as a rampaging tiger, so there was simply no way for him to win.

Yoongeon’s defeat (敗北) was not a defeat, but a suicide (自盡).

The reason was unknown, but in any case, it was fortunate for Seok Chan-mun, so he buried Yoongeon with due respect. Needless to say, this was a story Yoongeon knew nothing about.

And Yoongeon also did not know the story that followed after he was buried.

After hearing the news of the death of his adoptive father who had raised him, his adopted son began to fall ill. The distressed princess requested of the king, and renowned doctors from all over the country wore out the threshold of that house with their visits, but they could not find the cause. They all said the same thing.

‘It is not the body that is sick, but the heart.’

People guessed that the reason the perfectly fine Prince Consort had suddenly collapsed might be because of his adoptive father, but he gave no answer to their questions.

In the end, less than a year later, the princess’s Prince Consort passed away. An unusual amount of rain had fallen for a fortnight before he died, but on the day the man who had finally withered away departed, the sky was exceptionally clear.

As if the path he was taking was exceedingly unburdened.

✧ ✧ ✧

[They say he wasn’t badly injured. However, he has a mild concussion, so they said it would be best for him to be hospitalized and rest for at least three days… What should we do?]

To the employee who spoke while cautiously observing his reaction, Yoongeon answered nonchalantly.

“Since it was an accident that happened on the job, we’ll cover all the expenses incurred, and I’ll give him three months of paid leave, so have him return after he’s fully recovered.”

[Yes, Executive Director.]

“This is on the condition of signing a non-disclosure agreement. Settle it well so no words leak out. Make sure to clearly inform him what will happen if he breaches it.”

[Understood.]

“Readjust the work schedule. Are we short on personnel?”

[I think it will be fine with one assistant.]

“If you need additional personnel, hire more.”

[Thank you.]

After hanging up the phone and returning to his seat, he felt three pairs of eyes looking at him.

“I’m sorry. Please eat.”

“Um… was he badly hurt?”

The one asking cautiously was his mother, Minjung.

“No. It’s not serious, so it’s okay.”

His mother had called him early in the morning after finding out about the uproar Ko Yoonchul had caused last night, who knows how the news had reached her. Yoongeon, who had just finished his workout and was about to eat with Seohwi, had to come to the main house because of his mother’s excessively trembling voice.

“Geon, you…”

“I said I’m fine. He didn’t even lay a hand on me.”

“Right. You did, yes… Anyway, what should I do, I feel so sorry for that gentleman. Where’s the hospital? Mom, please tell me the room he’s hospitalized in.”

“Why?”

Just as he thought her question was ominous, his mother said the hospital food would be unsatisfactory, so she would make him something.

“You really don’t have to. I took care of everything…”

“Still. You said that man has worked in security for a long time. Don’t be so harsh to someone you’ve worked with for a long time. A moment ago you were talking about non-disclosure and what not… You shouldn’t do that, Geon. Okay?”

“……”

“Even though we’re the ones paying the money, it’s a matter between people. Solving things with money is fine, but you still have to show some heart. I’ll do that.”

He wondered if it was to the extent of being called harsh, but he did not talk back to his mother. His kind and considerate mother’s words had never been wrong, so he just had to assume it would be the same this time.

Minjung, who finally got the hospital name and room number from her son, began to agonize for a long time over what to pack. Chairman Ko, watching her, let out a deep sigh as if he did not like it.

“…So, where is that bastard Ko Yoonchul now?”

“At my eldest aunt’s house.”

“Um… now, isn’t it okay for him to come home… ahem…”

At Chairman Ko’s words, Yebin looked at her father with anxious eyes. Chairman Ko glanced at his daughter, then looked at the man standing in the corner and said.

“No, I mean… we have the bodyguard Yoongeon hired… huh? That guy can protect her. Hey! You’re confident, right?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“See? He says he’s confident.”

“……”

The man he pointed to with a glance was a professional fighter Yoongeon had hired. At those words, Yoongeon, who saw the man standing silently in the corner, let out a sigh.

“Not yet.”

“Still, the boy should be at home.”

“That place is Ko Yoonchul’s home too.”

“Ah, how is the house of a wife who divorced him and left home his house! It would be a different story if he just visited sometimes!”

He got angry, saying that this place, where he, the father, was, is the main house. The center of the family is the man, so the place where he is is the main house.

‘He really is something else.’

It was now at the point of admiration how he presented a logic so novel it felt fresh. As he was watching the scene quietly, Yebin, who had been looking at her father with frightened eyes the whole time, opened her mouth with a determined look.

“Dad, I’m moving out.”

“What?”

“I’m too anxious to live with my eldest brother. If I had my way, I’d want to move out with Mom… but since I can’t do that, I’ll just visit often.”

“Ah, do you not know what kind of rumors start when a girl leaves her parents’ shadow?!”

“I’ll go to a place with solid security, so don’t you worry.”

“What’s the use of solid security? If a girl lives alone, it takes no time at all for bastard men to hit on her and force their way in!”

But Yebin shook her head firmly.

“Bring my eldest brother in. I’ll be moving out.”

“Ko Yebin!”

There was a sudden shout, but Yebin, as well as Yoongeon and Minjung, all just stared at Chairman Ko with blank expressions. Only then did Chairman Ko, realizing his family’s gazes were unusual, shrink back.

“No, I mean… he’s still our son.”

“I’m against it too. The only one who can control Yoonchul right now is his biological mother, so leave him be. You can’t do anything.”

“Yebin’s mom, that’s…”

“If you bring Yoonchul in, I’ll move out and live with Yebin. You’re so worried about a girl, so it would be fine for her to live with her mom. I can keep an eye on the kid.”

Minjung, who had never spoken coldly to her husband no matter how angry she got since making up her mind, said in an extremely cold voice.

“If my child gets hurt again, I won’t just stand by then.”

“……”

As if surprised by her attitude, Chairman Ko clamped his mouth shut.

“I’m going to get a divorce, so you know.”

“Now, what are you talking about?”

“Let’s talk separately later.”

That was the end of the conversation. As neither Minjung nor Yebin said anything more, the atmosphere instantly grew chilly. Chairman Ko, with a troubled face, barely touched his food and then left the table first. It seemed he was extremely uncomfortable being with Minjung. Yebin glanced around and called out, Mom, but Minjung too only ate her meal in silence.

“Don’t try to stop me. I can endure everything else, but I won’t endure him insisting on bringing in a guy who hurts my child.”

“……”

“Don’t worry about me. This is for the adults to handle.”

The one-sided conversation ended there. At Minjung’s words to finish her meal, Yebin had no choice but to pick up her spoon again. Yebin looked very troubled, but Yoongeon, in truth, had no thoughts. It was a well-known fact that Chairman Ko acted as he pleased, and if his mother said she could no longer tolerate it, a divorce was not a bad option.

A short while later, as soon as the awkward meal ended, his mother went into a room with Yebin. Yoongeon, suddenly left all alone, looked around and said to the housekeepers who were waiting for the meal to finish.

“Clean up.”

“Yes, Executive Director. …But the Chairman didn’t eat properly, should we bring him something?”

“My mother will decide.”

“……”

Those words were tantamount to saying not to feed him unless his mother permitted it. The housekeepers looked extremely hesitant, but Yoongeon stood up nonchalantly and went outside. Standing and looking at the garden, Yoongeon took a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.

“…Don’t tell me he’s sleeping again.”

Yoongeon, who was smoking a cigarette with a casual expression, suddenly remembered something and took out his phone. He hoped Seohwi would eat even if he wasn’t there, but no matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem likely that Seohwi would do that. When he called him, the phone rang about three times and then disconnected.

[……]

He was relieved that he had answered the phone, but for some reason, there was no word.

“Seohwi.”

[…Hello.]

I knew it. It’s already 8 o’clock. Yoongeon let out a small sigh.

“Get up. It’s 8 o’clock.”

[Ugh…]

“……”

Waking up must be quite difficult for him. Anyone would think he’d stayed up all night and had only just fallen asleep.

“I said get up.”

[You said it’s 8 o’clock…]

“Exactly.”

[It’s fine……]

His voice cuts off mid-sentence. No matter how many times he called, there was no answer.

“……”

He wondered what to do with him sleeping so much, but Yoongeon didn’t get annoyed once and, after calling Seohwi’s name a few more times, hung up the phone. Since he said it’s fine because it’s 8 o’clock, he figured he would be up if he called again in about 30 minutes. Though being late would be unavoidable.

“Oppa, can I go to work with you today? I’m a little scared.”

It was while he was gauging the time. Yebin came over and asked, and Yoongeon nodded his head. The fighter standing behind him bowed his head.

“Good morning.”

“Yes.”

Yoongeon took a new cigarette from its pack and was lighting it when he asked the man.

“What is your name?”

“It is Park Jae-hong.”

“…Oppa, you didn’t even know Mr. Jae-hong’s name until now?”

To Yebin’s incredulous question, Yoongeon just shrugged his shoulders. All we do is spar, do I really need to know his name?

“I’ll learn it now. Since we’ll be seeing each other continuously.”

“Oppa, you’re really something else…”

“Are you okay to go to work? If you’re tired, rest more.”

“No, I have to go now… There are some things I need to go and see.”

Yebin suddenly flinched as she spoke. It seemed a scary thought had come to her. She grabbed Yoongeon’s arm with a frightened face.

“You smell like cigarettes. Let go.”

“Oppa, are you going out of the office today?”

“I don’t know.”

“Can’t you stay by my side?”

“……”

Yoongeon stared blankly at his sister clinging to him, then hugged her and patted her back.

“You know I can’t promise. That’s why I assigned Mr. Jae-hong to you.”

“……”

“If he’s good enough to spar with me, most people can’t mess with him. That bastard Ko Yoonchul definitely can’t.”

Yoongeon let Yebin hug him. He normally wouldn’t, but he knew his sister, who since childhood would cling to him and not let go whenever she was scared.

He remembered a time when they were young, on the day Ko Yoonchul had thrown a still-young Yebin, she had stuck to Yoongeon all day, making things difficult. After that day, Yebin developed a habit of coming into Yoongeon’s room and hugging him tightly to sleep whenever she had a scary nightmare at night, and that habit popped right back out as if she was quite terrified.

“It’s okay, Ko Yebin.”

“But…”

“How are you going to take over the Chairman position like this?”

At his teasing words, Yebin hesitated for a moment before saying.

“I want you to be by my side, oppa.”

“……”

“I want you to stay with me, without going anywhere.”

“I can’t protect you for the rest of your…”

“That’s not what I mean by protect.”

Yebin raised her head to look at him. Her gaze was so clear it seemed to pierce through him, and for a moment, Yoongeon clamped his mouth shut.

“As my older brother, I want you to stay.”

She spoke as if she knew something.

“……”

“But still, for today… just for today, stay with me…”

“Hah…”

It was a stubbornness she was showing, even though she knew perfectly well that you can’t make promises about work matters. But since he knew she wasn’t usually this stubborn, it was hard to refuse her coldly. For one thing, she was his sister…

“I’ll try. I can’t promise.”

“Okay, good.”

Saying that was enough, Yebin smiled in relief. But she still didn’t let go of him, so Yoongeon, finding it difficult, lifted Yebin up, slung her over his shoulder, and went to the parking lot. Because he often carried her tucked under his arm or slung over his shoulder, Yebin wasn’t even surprised and just yawned.

“Uh oh…”

However, perhaps because he wasn’t used to such things, Park Jae-hong followed behind them, fidgeting. Yoongeon paid him no mind, laid Yebin down in the back seat of the car, and went to the driver’s seat. Just then, Park Jae-hong said he would drive, but he pointed towards the house and said.

“First, go and get my sister’s bag. If you ask my mother, she’ll find it for you.”

Come to think of it, I came out without my bag, Yebin said with a yawn. Seeing her eyes getting heavy as soon as she lay down, he figured she was about to fall asleep, so Yoongeon started the engine and turned on the heater.

It wasn’t that urgent, but Park Jae-hong ran in a flurry, got the bag, and came out. Jae-hong, who got into the passenger seat, looked at him with a very apologetic face, but Yoongeon just glanced at the back seat, motioning him to be quiet. In that short time, Yebin had fallen asleep.

30 minutes later, Yoongeon arrived at the company and looked at the still-sleeping Yebin, then told the bodyguard to come up together around 9 o’clock before going up to the office first. After confirming that no one had arrived yet, he entered the Executive Director’s office and called Seohwi. This time, the ringing continued for quite a while before it was cut off.

[I’m up.]

“I’m genuinely curious, it takes 30 minutes just to get here, so how are you planning to come now after just waking up?”

[Hang up. I’m busy.]

“Ha…”

Right, he must be busy… Yoongeon muttered, looking at the disconnected call. He looked at the clock and it was now 8:29. Alright then, I’ll just have to watch and see how well you can make it.

Although he said that, Yoongeon called Secretary Lim and told him to buy sandwiches and coffee for the team members. In truth, he didn’t care whether others ate breakfast or not, but he couldn’t just blatantly prepare something for Seohwi alone. In the midst of it all, that damn Im Seon-woong ruined his mood by asking if he could have just one more burrito.

Yoongeon, as always, was the first to turn on the office lights and started his work earlier than others. He looked over Team Leader Oh Wan-su’s report, which he had meant to review last night but ended up not seeing, and after much thought, decided to discuss it with the team members.

9 o’clock came quickly while he was reviewing the report. He casually lifted his head to look at the clock and saw that it was past 8:50. The team members came in and greeted Yoongeon, and he returned their greetings familiarly. Needless to say, Seohwi was nowhere to be seen even by 8:55.

“I knew this would happen.”

He’s obviously going to be late. A newbie, being late. A smirk unconsciously escaped him as he imagined Seohwi rushing in and looking around nervously. This is somehow getting fun. Yoongeon glanced at the time on his laptop. 8:56, 8:57, 8:58 passed, and Seohwi still didn’t come.

“Good morning.”

“…What the.”

And at 8:59. Seohwi, having arrived at the office, stood in front of the Executive Director’s office and offered a polite greeting. No, he woke up at 8:30, so by what means could he possibly arrive at 8:59? Dumbfounded, Yoongeon let out an involuntary grumble.

“How on earth…”

“……”

He was genuinely asking because he didn’t know, but Seohwi just tilted his head once and replied like this.

“It takes 5 minutes to get ready.”