85.
“I’m worried about what’s to come now.”
With Pamina’s downfall, Grein also lost his position as heir. Ahmed remained, but he was already under disciplinary action for committing a major mistake. In this situation, Yu Jin being designated as the heir made it not difficult to predict what was to come.
Some would try to draw Yu Jin in, while others would hate him.
‘What a nuisance.’
No, it would be fortunate if it just ended as a nuisance. The power and wealth of Lucid were famous, and as such, many people tried to cling to it. Just when things were going well, this kind of attention would be a hindrance.
‘What on earth is he thinking?’
Yu Jin couldn’t understand Ruhan’s thoughts. He sighed again and leaned against Jinhyeon.
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you somehow.”
As Jinhyeon said this, Keith added his words.
“I’ll do my best too. I won’t let anything dangerous happen to you.”
“Me too!”
Haruna also raised her hand in agreement.
‘That’s right.’
He could trust the twins until the end. Jinhyeon also showed no signs of changing his mind anytime soon, so things should be fine for a while. So, let’s steel ourselves not to crumble. Yu Jin thought this way.
The concerns Yu Jin had were not long in coming.
“Lord Keith!”
The flustered head maid ran to Keith. Usually, she moved silently, but now she was breathing heavily as if excited about something.
“What’s the matter?”
“G-gifts are flooding in through the main gate right now!”
Even though Yu Jin had been mentioned as the heir, there shouldn’t have been people who would visit directly from the start. Although he was showing a changed appearance now, in the past he had been an incorrigible scoundrel, so time was needed to ascertain the exact facts.
But what if they missed an important timing? What if someone else gained Yu Jin’s favor first? And if Yu Jin really inherited the position of heir and became the family head, it would be disadvantageous. Therefore, people related to the Lucid family thought:
Let’s gain his favor first!
Even if they couldn’t visit directly, sending an appropriate gift should be fine. They thought that Yu Jin, who had been in a cast-off position in the family until now, would be pleased with just that much. So they sent gifts, but the problem was that there wasn’t just one or two people who had the same idea. The first floor hall of Yu Jin’s mansion was quickly filled with gift boxes. Yu Jin’s expression turned fierce when he came down after hearing the news from Keith.
“Send them back.”
From the beginning, Yu Jin had no intention of becoming the heir, so he didn’t need gifts. Therefore, he rejected all subsequent gifts, but the other side was not to be underestimated. There were people who begged him to accept the gifts, and others who left them behind and ran away. The amount of gifts already received was considerable, so returning them required a lot of manpower. Everyone from maids and servants to slaves had to be involved.
“This is driving me crazy.”
Yu Jin messed up his hair as he looked at it. Were there so many people related to Lucid? This was no longer at a level he could handle.
“I’m going to Lucid.”
Shouting alone that he was refusing the position of heir wouldn’t make Ruhan budge. It wasn’t normal to begin with to designate someone who said they would leave the family as the heir. Yu Jin gritted his teeth and got into the prepared carriage. Keith and Jinhyeon were also by his side.
“Be careful on your way.”
Haruna wanted to go along too, but she stayed behind as someone was needed to command the mansion in a situation where the main figures were leaving immediately. Objectively speaking, Keith was stronger than Haruna, so it was her own choice. The carriage quickly arrived at Lucid. Ruhan did not refuse to meet Yu Jin.
“So, what’s the matter?”
It was their second meeting since Yu Jin regained memories of his past life. This time too, Ruhan greeted Yu Jin while flipping through documents in his study. He only raised his head when Yu Jin approached and tapped his finger on the desk.
“You’re impatient.”
“I have to be. Didn’t I tell you? That I would leave the Lucid family.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Then how am I becoming a candidate for heir?”
“To be precise, not a candidate, but the heir.”
“Either way.”
Ruhan put down his pen and leaned back in his chair leisurely.
“You know the reason too. Grein is currently missing.”
Missing? This was news to Yu Jin, but it wasn’t completely impossible. Pamina was harsh to others but lenient to Grein, whom she had given birth to. As such, it was highly likely that she had moved Grein elsewhere before openly committing a crime. If Ruhan hadn’t found him yet, he would be considered missing.
“What about Ahmed?”
“That fellow is foolish and narrow-minded. He might be fine running a small family, but he’s not suitable for Lucid. Excluding those two, now your sisters remain. Yu Jin, do you think your sisters are suitable to be the head of Lucid?”
No. From the beginning, neither Pamina nor Azeth, nor Yu Jin’s sisters were considered as heir candidates. That’s why they weren’t taught much and were given whatever they wanted. As a result, they became foolish beings. Among them, Roena was the best, so it was obvious how the others would be. But answering no here would be disadvantageous for Yu Jin.
“Have you given them a chance?”
At those words, Ruhan laughed softly.
“Chances are given to those who can seize them. You’re the only sane one among my children.”
“I don’t know how many times I have to say this for you to understand. I said I would leave Lucid.”
“I won’t allow it.”
“Why do I need your permission for that!”
“Because you’re of my blood.”
Yu Jin’s expression hardened coldly. He really was a person who wouldn’t listen. Ruhan was willing to do anything for Lucid, so this time too, he was trying to ignore Yu Jin’s opinion for that purpose. If it came to this, there was only one way. There was only one person who could possibly persuade Ruhan.
“Would my mother have wanted this?”
As soon as those words ended, the expression disappeared from Ruhan’s face.
“…Asha wouldn’t have wanted it. She wanted happiness more than power.”
Ruhan stared at Yu Jin intently and asked.
“Are you the same?”
“I am.”
Yu Jin answered firmly.
“I see.”
It seemed he hadn’t been looking at Yu Jin properly all this time. He thought Yu Jin didn’t resemble Asha much, but it turned out he was wrong. The bold gaze looking straight at him reminded him of her who had already died. Asha didn’t become servile even when she had nothing. She looked straight into Ruhan’s eyes and spoke of love, and tried to find happiness in small things.
After Asha’s death, Ruhan tried to preserve traces of her. He made it so that no one could enter her room, and later sent Yu Jin away to another place.
He tried desperately like that, but nothing could beat the passage of time. In the passing time, traces of Asha gradually faded, and Ruhan fell into despair. Ruhan was moving because he had the duty to prosper Lucid, but he was empty inside.
“I’ve been foolish.”
The trace of Asha he had been looking for so desperately was right in front of him. The child Asha gave birth to resembled her. Especially the personality seemed to resemble her a lot. Therefore, Ruhan decided not to withdraw his declaration of Yu Jin as the heir.
“Still, I can’t grant what you want. The position of heir is yours.”
“Have you been listening to me at all until now?”
“I have. But wouldn’t this position be helpful to you right now? Aren’t you in the middle of expanding your business? Things will become much easier. Use it as much as you can, and if you still don’t like it later, I’ll withdraw it then.”
Yu Jin, standing in front, blinked blankly.
“…Why are you going to such lengths?”
Indeed. Why was he going so far? Ruhan traced his thoughts and soon came to a conclusion.
“Because you’re Asha’s and my child.”
“Huh? Weren’t you not interested until now?”
“That’s right. So think of it as compensation for that. I won’t give you obligations. Just enjoy the rights.”
If Yu Jin wanted, he would pass it on to him, and if not, he was thinking of finding a clever child from a branch family. Preferably a child who could feel affection for Yu Jin and act accordingly.
“I don’t understand what you’re thinking.”
“There’s no need to know that necessarily. But there is one condition.”
“What is it?”
“Come to see me occasionally.”
Ruhan said this and smiled sincerely for the first time in a long while.
Yu Jin left Ruhan’s study and closed the door. Then he leaned against the door and racked his brain. He couldn’t understand why Ruhan was suddenly acting like this. From his words alone, it seemed like he had developed paternal affection belatedly.
But he couldn’t fully believe those words. After neglecting him so much when he was young, now he does this? It made him want to vomit. He gritted his teeth and detached himself from the door. For now, he was planning to go to Jinhyeon and Keith who would be waiting for him.
‘Why? Why is he doing this?’
Even on the way, the thought didn’t leave his head. Then, suddenly hearing a bird’s song, he turned his gaze to the window in the corridor. Yu Jin’s figure was reflected in the transparently cleaned glass window.
