72.
The answer Jinhyeon gave wasn’t what Yu Jin wanted to hear. Yu Jin didn’t want simple information, but rather to know Jinhyeon’s feelings towards Lyunne. Isn’t she a beautiful woman? Did your heart flutter when you saw her? Did you think it was fate? There were many things he wanted to ask, but the words wouldn’t come out. Even knowing the novel’s content had been twisted, the uneasiness remained.
‘Why did I have to fall for Jinhyeon, of all people?’
Yu Jin squeezed his eyes shut. Although Jinhyeon had confessed to liking Yu Jin, he couldn’t believe it. Jinhyeon would surely meet more attractive people like Lyunne in the future, so how long would he continue to like Yu Jin? He lacked confidence.
Neither Suho from his past life nor the current Yu Jin was worthy of being loved by someone in many ways. Yu Jin swallowed the sigh that was rising unconsciously and opened his eyes again. He was startled by the face right in front of him. Jinhyeon caught the teacup that Yu Jin had dropped in surprise and placed it back on the table.
“It seems there’s a problem.”
Jinhyeon’s eyes scrutinized Yu Jin intently.
“What problem? I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
Yu Jin blurted out an excuse and placed his hand on Jinhyeon’s shoulder, gently pushing him. However, Jinhyeon didn’t move aside.
“At first, I thought it was because you were sick. But that’s not it, is it?”
He’s quite perceptive. It would have been better if he had just pretended not to notice. Yu Jin clasped his hands tightly.
“Lyunne.”
Yu Jin’s body reacted to the name coming from Jinhyeon’s lips.
“It seems you have something with that woman.”
“I don’t.”
Jinhyeon twisted his lips at Yu Jin’s denial.
“Don’t lie to me from now on.”
“…Why?”
“Do you need to ask? It’s obvious when you’re lying. So, what kind of relationship do you have with that woman?”
“There’s no relationship at all.”
Truly, Lyunne had no connection to the current Yu Jin. There was no way there could be any point of contact between Yu Jin, who had been pretending to be a good-for-nothing and only attending night parties, and Lyunne, the daughter of a duke. However, Jinhyeon didn’t seem to believe those words. He narrowed his eyes and held Yu Jin’s chin firmly with his hand. Under his interrogating gaze, Yu Jin’s eyes kept darting away.
“You say this while acting like this? Don’t tell me you like her? Is that kind of appearance your type?”
“It’s not. I told you there’s no relationship.”
The more he spoke, the more he felt like he was falling into a pit. As time passed, his mouth felt increasingly dry. When Yu Jin started to chew on his lips, Jinhyeon’s hand relaxed.
“Don’t bite your lips. You’ll make them bleed.”
Hearing this, Yu Jin touched his lips and indeed, there was red blood. Seeing this, the emotions he had been suppressing began to stir.
“What about you? Didn’t you have other thoughts when you saw Lady Lyunne?”
“What thoughts?”
Rationally, he knew he should stop here, but he couldn’t.
“She’s beautiful and lovely, after all.”
While Jinhyeon and Roena’s first meeting was as slave and master, it was different with Lyunne. She was a woman Jinhyeon had chosen himself, and their personalities matched quite well. That’s why, unlike Roena, Lyunne played the role of Jinhyeon’s main wife in the original story.
“Were you swayed?”
Stop it. Saying such things now wouldn’t benefit Yu Jin at all. He regretted it belatedly, but the words had already been spoken. Yu Jin looked at Jinhyeon with trembling eyes. He seemed a bit surprised by Yu Jin’s words. But that was only for a moment; soon after, Jinhyeon started laughing out loud. The laughter that filled the quiet lounge was filled with joy.
“Ah, I see now.”
Jinhyeon reached out, pulled Yu Jin close, and embraced him tightly. Caught off guard, Yu Jin could only blink blankly, then blushed at Jinhyeon’s next words.
“You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not!”
Even though Yu Jin shouted in panic, Jinhyeon’s laughter didn’t stop.
“I said I’m not!”
Even as Yu Jin denied it again, Jinhyeon, still amused by something, lay down on the sofa while hugging Yu Jin. Finding himself on top of Jinhyeon’s body, Yu Jin nervously pounded on his firm, broad chest. But Jinhyeon’s arms holding him tightly didn’t loosen.
“It’s okay.”
What’s okay about this! Yu Jin felt like he could die of embarrassment. So as a second-best option, he tried to cover Jinhyeon’s eyes, but Jinhyeon whispered in a low voice.
“I was jealous too.”
“…What?”
“You kept looking only at that woman.”
Jinhyeon continued speaking, but Yu Jin couldn’t hear it. Instead, he was stuck on the word ‘jealous’.
‘He said he was jealous.’
Even knowing how Jinhyeon might change, a sense of expectation arose.
“I told you. I like you.”
“What if someone you like more appears?”
“That won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“When I fall for something, I only see that one thing.”
Hearing Jinhyeon’s words, Yu Jin felt satisfied and his turbulent emotions settled. He leaned against Jinhyeon and spent a short moment of rest.
Countess Montblanc kept talking endlessly to Lyunne, who had visited the party venue after a long time.
“I trust the Duchess is doing well?”
“Of course. She’s always well. These days, she’s obsessed with cultivating roses and spends all her time on that.”
“As expected, a refined hobby befitting the Duchess.”
As the useless conversation continued, Lyunne gradually grew tired. She had been acquainted with the Montblanc Count’s family since childhood, but they supported Lyunne’s brother, not her. They were good people, but if these straight-laced individuals knew what kind of thoughts Lyunne harbored, they would be shocked. After an appropriate amount of time had passed, Lyunne excused herself, saying she was tired, and briefly escaped to the balcony.
“How tedious.”
As she uttered her complaint, a man stepped out from the shadows in the corner of the balcony. It would have been startling for most people, but Lyunne remained calm. She had seen Grey appear like this several times before.
“Can’t you appear in a different way?”
She pointed out how cliché his entrance was, but Grey merely shrugged his shoulders.
“Does it matter how I appear? That’s not the important thing.”
“I suppose not.”
Today, at Grey’s request, Lyunne had come to the party to make contact with Yu Jin. However, as soon as Lyunne entered the hall, he had left his seat, making it impossible to meet him. She heard he had gone to the lounge, so he should return soon.
Lyunne turned to face Grey directly.
“Then, while we have some time, shall we talk? Is Yu Jin necessary for me to get what I want?”
Grey hadn’t yet explained why they needed to meet Yu Jin.
“He’s not directly necessary.”
“Then?”
“The person I actually want to meet is a man named Keith who works at Yu Jin’s mansion. He’s from the same organization as me.”
“Unexpected information.”
“I saw no need to hide it. We’re already in the same boat, after all.”
Well. Was Grey really telling the truth as he claimed? To Lyunne, Grey was a terrible liar. He mixed lies with truth and subtly guided things the way he wanted. Considering this attitude, it was necessary to think more carefully.
‘Just because they’re in the same organization, does that make them allies?’
Lyunne didn’t think so. Perhaps their relationship was like that of Lyunne and her brother. She’d have to wait and see, but that was the feeling she got.
“Let’s go out now.”
As they left the balcony, Grey disappeared from sight again. And Lyunne was able to meet Yu Jin, who was returning alone from the lounge.
“Hello. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lyunne.”
Lyunne spoke to Yu Jin with a charming smile.
Keith was sitting by the window in his room, looking up at the sky. At a glance, he seemed to be in deep meditation, but the reality was different. He was responding to the chirping of a small bird perched on the windowsill.
“So you’re saying Grey has attached himself to Lady Lyunne this time.”
[Yes, the organization is starting to move in earnest. That woman is smart and ambitious. She’s the type who would harm her own family for her goals, so she’s good to support. It’s the kind of job Grey would take on. But you know what? I don’t like it.]
Even people gathered under one ideology don’t all have the same tendencies. There were factions within Leviathan as well, and Grey’s master was in the opposite faction from Rector.
[That guy is too extreme.]
At those words, Keith stared blankly at the small bird. He was reminded of his intense first meeting with Rector.
[I know what you’re thinking, but stop staring. I’m still one of the milder ones among them.]
“…Yes.”
[Tsk, anyway, unlike you, Grey will meddle here and there. In the process, he might try to interfere with you too.]
“How?”
[There are many ways. Unlike that guy, you have several people you care about, right? He might approach them, bewitch them, and turn them against you, or if that doesn’t work, he’ll break them.]
Keith’s expression turned cold at Rector’s casual words.
“I won’t let that happen.”
[It won’t be easy.]
“Even so, I have no intention of backing down.”
[That’s right, that’s my disciple.]
“Don’t you have any thoughts of doing something more for your disciple, Master?”
[It’s tiring enough dealing with Grey’s master here. A disciple should handle things on their own.]
The small bird said this and then closed its beak. Shortly after, it opened its round eyes wide and flew up into the sky.
