“Cha Han-gyeom.”
At the sound of his name, Han-gyeom’s shoulders, which had been hunched, visibly tensed. Seo Won’s arm gently wrapped around those shoulders.
“Look at me,” Seo Won said.
Han-gyeom hesitated to meet his gaze directly, instead focusing on Seo Won’s reflection in the car window. The reflection wasn’t clear enough to discern Seo Won’s expression.
Finally, Han-gyeom turned to face Seo Won, who reached out and gently stroked his cheek.
“You look better than before,” Seo Won remarked.
“Better how…?” Han-gyeom asked.
A hint of relief flickered across Seo Won’s previously expressionless face.
“Earlier, you looked like you were about to have a seizure. Your face was pale,” Seo Won explained.
Han-gyeom instinctively raised a hand to his face, feeling the warmth that had returned to his cheeks. He didn’t need a mirror to know he looked better.
‘Come to think of it, why did I calm down?’
Just before Seo Won arrived, Han-gyeom’s heart had been racing, and his mind was a chaotic mess. Memories of the research facility, thoughts of Song Yeon-woo, and the manipulative intentions of Yoon Jeong-ho and Ha Tae-soo had overwhelmed him. His body had been on the verge of a seizure, a familiar reaction to his mental state.
Han-gyeom reached into his pocket and felt the small, cool shape of the ice apple.
‘Is this why? But I didn’t even touch it this time…’
The ice apple only worked if he held it and focused on Seo Won. Since he hadn’t touched it, it couldn’t have activated on its own. Simply being aware of the ice apple’s presence could provide some mental stability, but earlier, he had been too overwhelmed to even think about it.
In truth, he had noticed something.
“Cha Han-gyeom, come here.”
The moment Seo Won spoke those words, Han-gyeom’s racing heart began to calm. The chaos in his mind subsided, replaced by thoughts of Seo Won’s name and face. The jumbled pieces of his thoughts settled one by one.
It was similar to another time—when he had experienced a panic attack in front of Kang Woo-chan. Then, too, Seo Won’s words and gaze had quickly restored his calm.
It was remarkable.
‘Is this because he’s an Imprinted?’
If so, it was incredibly powerful. Whether Seo Won was near or far, just his voice and gaze could dramatically alter Han-gyeom’s state.
Seo Won, who had been watching Han-gyeom lost in thought, gently took his hand out of his pocket. The transparent ice apple was revealed, having been pulled out unintentionally.
“I see, is this the reason?” Seo Won remarked, attributing Han-gyeom’s improved condition to the ice apple.
He examined the ice apple, now reduced to the size of a plum. Its transparent interior seemed to hold Seo Won’s gaze.
“Should I make you another one? Perhaps a pendant or a bracelet you can wear around your neck or wrist?” he suggested.
The ice apple could only be reduced to a size that fit in one’s hand. This limitation was due to the constraints of its original density and the need to hold a significant amount of ESP. Creating another one in a more portable size, like a pendant or bracelet, wouldn’t be difficult, but it would significantly reduce the amount of ESP it could hold. Unlike the ice apple, which could maintain its form for two weeks without recharging, a smaller accessory might shatter after just a couple of uses.
Of course, recharging it daily would prevent this issue, but Seo Won had his reasons for not wanting it in a wearable form. He didn’t want Han-gyeom to be able to easily carry it around, as it might make it simpler for him to leave. The ice apple was designed to be inconvenient to carry, ensuring that Han-gyeom wouldn’t casually take it with him. Over time, it would revert to its original size, becoming even more cumbersome and noticeable—a beautiful, transparent object that would draw attention.
Some might scoff at this, but the ice apple was one of several measures Seo Won had put in place to prevent Han-gyeom from escaping. Its impractical design was intentional, meant to discourage any thoughts of fleeing.
However, Seo Won’s perspective had shifted. Rather than keeping Han-gyeom confined to the mansion, he was now open to the idea of making the ice apple more convenient to carry if that’s what Han-gyeom wanted.
‘Perhaps I could start taking him out more often,’ Seo Won thought.
He gazed at Han-gyeom through the ice apple, admiring the dark eyes distorted by its curved surface. Despite the distortion, they were strikingly beautiful.
‘I don’t know why he’s so eager to guide me, but because of that, Cha Han-gyeom won’t leave me.’
Ever since bringing Han-gyeom to the mansion and forming a contract with him, Seo Won had been plagued by a lingering anxiety—the fear that Han-gyeom would escape. He needed Han-gyeom to survive, just as Han-gyeom needed him. Yet, the constant worry that Han-gyeom might disappear gnawed at him.
To alleviate this fear, Seo Won had confined Han-gyeom to the mansion, cutting off all means of outside communication. Yet, the anxiety persisted, refusing to fade.
It was only when Cha Han-gyeom decided to send Song Jae-woo, whom he cherished like family, abroad that Seo Won finally felt a sense of relief and certainty.
Song Jae-woo had been a significant source of anxiety for Seo Won. Ideally, he would have preferred to eliminate him, but the contract prevented any harm from coming to Song Jae-woo. Instead, Seo Won was obligated to protect him. The only scenario where Seo Won could act against Song Jae-woo was if Han-gyeom first violated the contract and fled with him. Until then, Seo Won’s hands were tied.
Han-gyeom’s decision to send Song Jae-woo abroad, where even he couldn’t visit, spoke volumes. It reassured Seo Won that Han-gyeom had no intention of escaping. He recalled Han-gyeom’s rejection of Kang Woo-chan’s offer, further confirming his resolve.
This realization eased Seo Won’s deep-seated anxiety, but it didn’t entirely disappear. He still hadn’t fully understood why Han-gyeom was so determined to guide him.
‘If only I could figure that out…’ Seo Won thought.
As Seo Won was lost in thought, Han-gyeom took the small ice apple from his hand.
“This is enough,” Han-gyeom said, cradling the ice apple gently. “I like this.”
Perhaps it was the emptiness of the ice apple that reminded him of himself, or maybe he had grown fond of it over time.
Seo Won covered Han-gyeom’s hand, which held the ice apple, with his own large hand. The coolness of the ice apple seemed to match the temperature of Seo Won’s hand as it enveloped Han-gyeom’s.
Han-gyeom looked down at Seo Won’s hand and asked, “Why don’t you ask?”
“Ask what?” Seo Won replied.
Han-gyeom kept his gaze fixed on Seo Won’s strong hand, avoiding his eyes.
“About what your grandfather and I talked about, or what that strange contract-type Ability User and Yoon Jeong-ho are planning…”
Seo Won remained silent, his blue eyes locked onto Han-gyeom without a hint of curiosity.
“Do you want to tell me?” Seo Won finally asked.
“That’s not it….” Han-gyeom trailed off, frustration evident on his face.
He wondered if Seo Won had any idea about the plans for the next six months—that Ha Tae-soo and Yoon Jeong-ho were plotting to kill him, and that even Han-gyeom himself was preparing for that moment. It was maddeningly frustrating for Han-gyeom that Seo Won seemed oblivious to the danger he was in, even with his enemies so close. Yet, Seo Won asked no questions, leaving Han-gyeom bewildered and exasperated.
Looking at Seo Won’s expressionless face, Han-gyeom felt a surge of frustration.
‘Why is he so calm? It’s infuriating.’
Surrounded by people plotting his demise, Seo Won seemed unconcerned. Han-gyeom wondered if Seo Won was genuinely unaware of the danger or if he was deliberately ignoring it.
“Cha Han-gyeom, look out the window,” Seo Won said.
Even now, in a serious situation, Seo Won casually gazed out the window. Han-gyeom followed his gaze, initially frowning, but his expression quickly softened as he took in the view.
“It’s the sea you said you wanted to see,” Seo Won remarked.
The deep blue ocean, reminiscent of Seo Won’s eyes, filled Han-gyeom’s vision, instantly captivating him.
