STM 101

My pride was hurt, but I asked just in case.

“Ah, ah, but are the Kun family’s rules special or…”

“It’s ordinary. Anyone would agree with it.”

Well, then. I nodded. I wanted to hear at least a specific example, but I couldn’t ask for it since I couldn’t even state my own condition.

I was relieved it was ordinary. And with that relief, I became even more pressed.

“I’d like to put this promise in writing.”

“As you wish.”

Really? The doubts I’d suppressed countless times suddenly resurfaced like a whack-a-mole game. But now was not the time to waste time on doubts.

It was important to get this contract written down while he still wasn’t in his right mind.

My eyes were darting around his desk, searching for a piece of paper, when he extended his hand.

A handshake? I raised my gaze, then paused when I saw his smile. It seemed particularly ominous.

I kicked away the dark sensation that was creeping up my spine.

Grab it! I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Even if he extended his foot, I had to take it. And as soon as I reached out, a large hand grabbed mine first.

Because his hands were bigs, mine was almost completely covered by his.

It felt like I was being trapped. Perhaps that’s why even though the situation was clearly advantageous for me, I was overcome with anxiety.

“I’d like to sign the contract first.”

“Alright.”

But contrary to his words, he didn’t let go of my hand, just staring at it. Wondering what he meant, I asked again to confirm.

“Are you sure you’ll grant me one thing I wish for?”

“Yes.”

He agreed, suddenly tightening his grip. The strength made me flinch, and a sudden surge of warmth spread through my hand.

“On my name. Kun Tairok.”

He paused for a moment and blurted out an unfamiliar word.

“Ram.”

Ram? What is that? But before I could confirm, he asked first.

“And you?”

“I will also abide by the Kun family rules and be faithful to our marriage.”

“Say your name properly.”

“Yes, in my name. Adeye Lu”

“Ram.”

He spoke strangely again, but I thought he meant to repeat after him.

“Ram.”

But what does that mean…? The words I was about to ask vanished when I saw his golden eyes, fixed on me, suddenly gleam like stars.

Wow, can human eyes be that beautiful?

I think I was lost in thought. A powerful, low voice finally brought me back to my senses.

“For your information, you can’t back out of this contract.”

“Of course.”

I refused to back down and answered firmly. This seemed to please him. A bright smile spread across his face.

But why? Just because of a handshake?

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The reason Solongo left Lu alone at the Kun house and hurried back was because of concern for the head of the household.

She’d delivered the good news first, for the sake of her health, but she knew she’d eventually hear bad news too.

She didn’t want her to hear it first, unprepared, from someone else. But by the time she arrived, it was already too late.

‘The matriarch has already received the full report on the White Branch meeting.’

The other secretary’s testimony was a bit jarring. Fortunately, she hadn’t fainted.

However, the sight of her half-reclined on the bed, the respirator attached to her mouth, made her look like she was about to collapse at any moment.

“Matriarch.”

Solongo called softly, but there was no response.

She should have asked about Lu at the Kun estate first, but Lantuya remained fixedly staring at the report.

After a long pause, the respirator was removed, and another name came out of her mouth.

“Ma Hoiga?”

Her eyes, fixed on the report, gleamed fiercely.

“Solongo.”

“Yes.”

“The Ma family is renowned for its strong family bonds. No wonder they support and encourage Hoiga, allowing him to live as he pleases, no matter how ridiculous his actions may have been. Hoiga must be very happy with such a family. Very much so.”

Doctor Kim didn’t express any direct anger toward the traitor, but her low voice was as cold as ice.

Solongo understood perfectly why she was so angry. If he had betrayed his own world for the sake of happiness here, there could be no more terrible reason.

“You always praised the Ma family’s unity and familial love, Matriarch?”

That wasn’t all. Solongo sighed softly.

“That’s why you were so lenient even when the Ma family blatantly imitated the Adeye family. As long as they didn’t cross the line.”

“Yes, I did. It seems I pushed the enemy’s back.”

Doctor Kim said expressionlessly and stared at the detailed report on the White Branch meeting.

“Did Hoiga reveal his true self at the White Branch meeting?”

“Yes. Not only did his appearance change, but his speech became calmer and slower. Hoiga was famous for his fast speech. By the way, you’ve never met him in person, right?”

“I saw him from afar. Three years ago, at a temple event. He was one of the few people who considered Lu a friend, so I watched him closely. He was laughing among the Ma family members. He seemed shy, as if his family had teased him about something.”

Doctor Kim’s eyes lit up as she recalled that moment.

“People show their true selves when they’re unguarded around those they trust. He wasn’t as boisterous as the rumors said when I saw him. I found it strange, how could someone with that kind of personality behave the way rumors claimed?”

“Isn’t it all thanks to that nanobot technology informants possesses?”

Doctor Kim’s lips twisted at Solongo’s words.

“Yes, unlike Lu, he must have utilized it very well.”

Solongo let out a brief “Ah,” of realization. Now that she thought about it, Lu had the perfect conditions to put on an act as well.

Surely, the nanobot device assisting him would tell him what to say and do.

But Lu ultimately refused to say or do anything he couldn’t tolerate. He simply made up the excuse that he’d almost died and survived with a changed personality.

“He disguised himself so thoroughly…It seems the traitor isn’t someone to be underestimated.”

“Yes. If he had met me in person, he probably would’ve suspected I was an informant.”

But she was lucky. Because of her illness, she’d been restricted from public activities, so they hadn’t had to face each other in person.

“So we can’t afford to miss this chance.”

Doctor Kim reached out and picked up a piece of paper and a pen from the table. After coughing a few times, she quickly wrote something down and handed it to Solongo. A fierce ambition blossomed in Solongo’s eyes upon reading the contents.

“Now, can we strike the sly Ma Trading Company?”

“We must strike. If the Ma family is Hoiga’s happiness, then it’s only fair to cut them off completely.”

Doctor Kim chuckled, her eyes gleaming fiercely again.

“But slowly, one day, when they suddenly come to their senses, they should realize they’re standing on the edge of a precipice. That way, the pain of falling is greater. So, Solongo, show them clearly who truly leads Tubain.”

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Why?

This question lingered in my mind as I rode back to the Adeye estate.

Why didn’t Tairok try to confirm if I was really Salvation? Why didn’t he ask about my conditions?

He must know that this could clearly work against him. But the biggest “why” right now was something else.

“What an indifferent fiancé.”

The question marks in my mind multiplied. Why was that person riding in the carriage with me? And he was staring at me, smiling like that every time our eyes met. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but frown whenever I saw that smile.

“Me?”

“You’re thinking about something else when I’m right here.”

If I told him he was the only one on my mind, he’d take it the wrong way, so I replied with nonsense instead

“No. I was sleeping with my eyes open.”

“Oh? Then you must’ve wanted to see me even in your sleep.”

His smile widened, but my expression hardened. Was he picking a fight?

“Aren’t you busy?”

“I’m busy.”

“Then why are you riding in the carriage with me?”

Of course, I knew the answer. When I’d looked at him in disbelief as he tried to get into the carriage, he’d smiled brightly and said,

“Of course I’ll escort my fiancé home.”

Naturally, I was startled and tried to refuse, saying it wasn’t necessary, but his subsequent words stopped me.

“You love me so much that you proposed. This is nothing.”

It finally occurred to me. The world probably thought I was bewitched by Tairok and proposed. Which meant I couldn’t very well reject the man everyone thought I was obsessed with when he offered to take me home himself.

Rick was staring at me with wide eyes, and there were many servants around the carriage, having come to see their master off.