Side Story 3.
Yu Jin lay sprawled on top of Jinhyeon with a sullen expression. He was annoyed and irritated at being pushed too far, but he didn’t want to be apart from his long-absent lover. Jinhyeon gently stroked Yu Jin’s hair, smiling like a satiated predator.
“By the way, you’ve lost weight again.”
Jinhyeon grumbled, wondering if Yu Jin had been eating properly during his absence.
“No, I ate well.”
The problem lay elsewhere. Yu Jin had been busy enough with work, but during Jinhyeon’s absence, he was also pestered about when he would produce an heir. Fearing Jinhyeon’s return, they didn’t openly push women on him, but the constant nagging from various people had worn him out. If they had been more aggressive, he could have at least punished them with house arrest, but they knew their limits.
Yu Jin’s judgments, despite his gentle appearance, were more humane than the previous head of the family, but that was all. He was just as cold when it came to matters that needed to be dealt with. So it was wise for the elders to cling to him while maintaining a certain distance.
“Then, something happened.”
Jinhyeon’s eyes, which had been languid until now, turned fierce. It’s not as serious as you think! Yu Jin lightly slapped Jinhyeon’s eyes with his hand.
“It’s about the heir. The heir.”
Only then did Jinhyeon’s eyes return to normal.
“We decided to adopt, didn’t we?”
“Yes. But there’s no one I like among the relatives.”
They were either too timid, ignorant, arrogant, or greedy. If they were younger, he could have taken them in and fixed them up decently, but they were all quite grown and set in their ways. Looking at this situation made him feel dizzy.
Yu Jin sighed heavily and looked up at Jinhyeon.
“Isn’t there a child like San somewhere?”
He meant a child who was intelligent, capable, and well-mannered.
“Wouldn’t that be hard to find?”
Jinhyeon knew how good of a child San was. Although he was now transitioning from a child to a teenager, only his appearance had changed. The parts he had thought were good hadn’t changed at all. That’s why he felt comfortable entrusting the information guild to him. As Jinhyeon thought this far, he blurted out what came to mind.
“Why don’t we just make San the heir?”
Yu Jin slowly blinked at Jinhyeon’s words.
“You never really liked the family, did you?”
That was true. Yu Jin had aimed for the position of family head to survive, but if his life hadn’t been threatened, he would have chosen to stay at home and do nothing.
“And after San becomes the heir, we could arrange for him to marry someone from a branch family, right?”
“What if San doesn’t like it?”
“We’ll introduce him to a decent person from a branch family, and if he doesn’t like them, we’ll cancel it.”
“Is that okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
And so, Jinhyeon decided to arrange a blind date for San, who was in his turbulent teenage years.
“Is it really okay?”
Yu Jin muttered skeptically, but Jinhyeon patted his back, assuring him it would be fine. Unlike them who disliked work, San was a child full of ambition.
Am I a genius? San smiled contentedly as he looked at the tasks he had accomplished this month. Initially, he had been an extremely timid child, but now he didn’t hesitate to praise himself. People around him had been very supportive, and he hadn’t failed in any of his tasks so far.
“Yes, our San is a genius.”
San’s shoulders twitched at Gee’s words, who was sprawled on the sofa behind him.
“Brother!”
As they spent time together, Gee and San got to know each other better and even started speaking informally. In the process, they became like brothers, and Gee often teased San.
“What? It’s not wrong. It’s a compliment. A compliment.”
I know that, but I don’t want to hear it said to my face! When he was younger, he liked hearing it a lot, but as he grew up, it became embarrassing.
“I won’t say it then.”
As San grumbled, there was a knock on the door.
“Yes~”
Gee answered instead of San, and when the door opened, a familiar face appeared. It was someone who remained in the information guild even after Blando and some others officially became knights of Lucid. He showed talent in using his brain rather than in combat and was being put to good use.
“Fin, what’s the matter?”
“Yu Jin and Jinhyeon are here to see you.”
At those words, San jumped up and straightened his clothes. Although his relationship with the two had changed like with Gee, becoming closer didn’t mean he was more comfortable. San’s feelings towards them were still close to admiration.
“Wow, you don’t do that for me.”
Gee rose from the sofa, feeling a bit hurt.
“Never mind that. Let’s go to the reception room!”
San and Gee quickly headed to the reception room where the guests would be waiting. It was called a reception room, but being in a secretive information organization, the only actual visitors were Yu Jin and Jinhyeon.
“Welcome.”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Yu Jin still boasted beauty close to divinity, and Jinhyeon had grown even bigger. What did he do this time? Thinking this, San sat across from the two.
“What brings you here?”
He looked at them with a face ready to do whatever they asked. But the response was a little different from usual.
“San. Do you have someone you like?”
At those words, San naturally looked at Gee, but Jinhyeon added with a smile,
“I mean a lover, not family.”
Only then did San’s head quickly return to its original position. He liked and followed Gee like a brother, but he didn’t want to date him. Gee’s expression showed disappointment at San’s reaction, but San neatly ignored it.
‘Sometimes brother doesn’t understand boundaries.’
San grumbled inwardly and answered Yu Jin.
“I don’t have anyone I like yet.”
“Then, would you like to be introduced to someone?”
As he said this, Yu Jin laid out some portraits in front of San. Judging by their elegant expressions and fancy clothes, they didn’t seem to be of the same social status as San.
“What does this mean?”
“What do you think it means?”
San quickly racked his brain. Yu Jin was currently struggling with the heir issue, and at this time, he’s showing San portraits of branch family members? The conclusion came quickly, but he couldn’t rashly voice it.
“What you’re thinking is correct, San.”
“Yes.”
“How about becoming the heir to a great noble family?”
Jinhyeon smiled and made a dangerous proposal. No, not just any noble family, but the Lucid family, one of the most prominent in the empire. And they’re saying they’ll put someone like him, who used to roll around in the back alleys, in that position? His heart, which had been calm, started beating wildly. It was scary, but an even bigger emotion seized San.
‘I want to rise.’
Even if he lived as he was now, he could get most of what he wanted. The money San earned working for the information guild was substantial, and during vacations, he had even traveled to other countries with Gee. Of course, there was a bit of work involved, but he also realized how enjoyable traveling could be.
Maybe living like this would be peaceful. Although there were many dangerous tasks being part of an information organization, he could live surrounded by people he knew, doing the work he was used to.
‘Even knowing that.’
San raised his gaze from the table. Jinhyeon’s expression seemed to understand his feelings.
“You want it, don’t you?”
I do.
“Then move.”
Maybe those words pushed his back.
“If possible, I’d like to become the heir.”
Only then did Gee, who had grasped the situation, open his mouth.
“San! Do you know what it means for a commoner to become the heir of a noble family?”
“I do.”
But he wanted to try anyway. San had always been a greedy child since he was young. He had just suppressed it due to his environment, but this was actually his true nature.
“You’ll help me, right? Brother.”
At San’s words, Gee sighed but didn’t say he wouldn’t.
“But if I become the heir, who will handle the information organization’s work?”
“There’s someone suitable for this job.”
“Don’t tell me…”
Jinhyeon didn’t answer, but San seemed to know the answer. Someone who knows well how the information organization operates, has high trustworthiness, and doesn’t want to stay in the same position!
“Keith will do it.”
At Yu Jin’s answer, San nodded.
“He is indeed the perfect fit.”
And so, Keith was transferred to the information organization. Of course, they had obtained his consent in advance. Keith glared at Jinhyeon but eventually agreed at Yu Jin’s suggestion. Actually, Haruna was also a candidate, but she seemed to be more suited to running around doing business. In the end, it was decided that Keith would become the head of the information organization. With this, San was set to step into the light.
Not everything went smoothly. There was opposition from the elders, but who was standing behind Yu Jin? No one could stand firm under the glare of the Slayer who had taken down a huge and powerful dragon. Thus, San became the heir of Lucid with surprisingly little fuss.
Afterwards, people from the branch families busily moved to get their hands on San, but he wasn’t an easy person to deal with either. His talent for charming people with his cute face was extraordinary. San managed to win over almost everyone except for a few with problematic personalities. And in the midst of all this, it seemed he had found someone he liked.
“Rozein.”
A cute girl two years younger than San, who seemed to have the same interests as him when they talked.
“Have you read that book too, San? Me too!”
From books to tea preferences, favorite snacks, and more. As they talked about various things, the two grew closer. Rozein’s father, an ambitious man, didn’t try to separate them. She was a suitable match in many ways. That’s how San steadily solidified his position as heir, and the person to stand by his side was decided. And this also meant that Yu Jin and Jinhyeon’s free time increased.
“Where should we go for vacation this time?”
Yu Jin asked, and Jinhyeon answered.
“Anywhere.”
“How about the Dijein region, famous for its summer lakes?”
“I’m fine with that.”
Jinhyeon was happy as long as Yu Jin was with him, regardless of where they went. And the same was true for Yu Jin.
“I love you.”
At the softly whispered words, Yu Jin smiled like an angel.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
