By Zephyria As soon as it was light, Yu-jin got out of bed and moved busily. He cleaned the whole house, took a shower, carefully chose his clothes, and when he was applying hair wax to fix his hair, the doorbell rang.
“Hello!”
The employee who came to bring food to Yu-jin, whose voice had naturally become louder due to tension, frowned as if puzzled, but didn’t say anything. He handed over the basket containing the day’s worth of food, as usual, and asked the usual question.
“Do you need anything?”
Most of the things he asked for at times like this were granted. After all, all Yu-jin wanted was a book or to buy new, worn-out cleaning tools. The employee probably thought it would be a similar request today as well. But today, Yu-jin was going to make a special request.
“Could I see Mrs. Campbell?”
“…What?”
The employee didn’t react immediately. After a few seconds of silence, Yu-jin mustered up the courage to speak to the question he asked, leaning his head forward, almost losing his nerve for a moment.
“I want to see Mrs. Campbell, now.”
“No, the madam is busy. You can’t meet her without making an appointment in advance.”
It was an answer he had expected to some extent. Yu-jin then asked again.
“If I were to make an appointment, when would it be possible?”
“I can’t know that. I’d have to check with Mrs. Campbell’s secretary to know.”
The curt answer wasn’t very hopeful. Yu-jin hesitated and opened his mouth.
“Then… could you make an appointment for me too?”
“…Haa.”This time, the employee paused before letting out a deep sigh. Yu-jin was on the verge of madness with anxiety and nervousness, but he stood his ground with all his might, waiting for an answer.
“…Alright, I’ll do that for you.”
“Th-Thank you!”
Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and bow, but the employee didn’t respond, turning and walking away. Yu-jin watched his retreating figure before closing the front door as usual and placing the basket on the table.
*I might be ignored.*
Yu-jin sat on the chair, lost in thought. If that was the case, there was only one way. Harold had come yesterday, so he wouldn’t be back until next month.
*There’s still time.*
He took a deep breath in and out, then moved more busily than usual to make breakfast. An ordinary day was passing by.
* * *
Ten days had passed since then, but there was no news. Yu-jin, who had marked an X on the calendar, made up his mind today and chose cleaner clothes with more care than usual, paying attention to welcoming the employee.
“Is Mrs. Campbell still not available?”
As usual, he asked if he needed anything, and when he brought up the words he had prepared, the employee seemed to hesitate for a moment before answering with a blank face.
“I’ll let you know when she has time, so wait.”
“Yes, thank you.”
He answered obediently, but Yu-jin wasn’t a fool. He quietly saw the employee off, then placed the basket on the table and took a deep breath. Only after counting to 60 in his head did he open the front door, but the employee had already disappeared from sight.
*She definitely didn’t even tell Mrs. Campbell.*
Yu-jin made up his mind and left the Separate Residence/Annex, immediately heading towards the main building. The huge main building, located far away, was always in sight, but it was the first time he was going there directly. It was something he had planned from the moment he first asked to arrange a meeting with Mrs. Campbell. She was the only one who could mediate this situation.
*She will help me.*
Yu-jin had a vague fondness for Mrs. Campbell, whom he had never met. She was often featured in magazines and newspapers, helping the poor, holding charity events, donating money, or visiting hospitals to comfort sick children. Because of this, Yu-jin believed that Mrs. Campbell was a very good person and would actively help a pitiful child. If Yu-jin told her the situation, she would definitely try to help. At the very least, she would come up with some kind of alternative.
Although his memories were hazy, Yu-jin’s parents had a very good relationship. His mother and father respected each other’s opinions and always listened to what the other had to say. The photos of the Campbell couple in the media also looked very affectionate. He was sure that they were in the same kind of relationship as Yu-jin’s own parents.
*If Mrs. Campbell says something, Harold will stop.*
He had asked Harold not to do it, but he had only been scolded. The only option left for Yu-jin was to beg his wife.
*She will definitely help.* Yu-jin believed it.
Haa, haa.
When he finally reached the mansion, Yu-jin was panting heavily, his shoulders shaking. He could clearly see how big the mansion was, but no matter how much he walked, he couldn’t reach it. He felt like he was about to collapse when he finally arrived.
*Get a grip.*
*I’ve come all this way,* he urged himself, straightening his body. Just then, he saw a woman coming out of the mansion’s front door in the distance. It was Mrs. Campbell.
Yu-jin’s eyes widened in surprise. How lucky could he be! His heart felt like it was going to burst with his good fortune.
But this was no time to be moved. He squeezed out the last of his strength and ran towards her.
“…Madam, Mrs. Campbell!”
Her movement stopped as she was about to get into the waiting car, startled by his urgent voice, and she looked at him. Yu-jin was terrified by the frown on Mrs. Campbell’s face, but he mustered his courage and spoke.
“I, I’m sorry for the sudden intrusion… I’m, I’m Yu-jin Seol. I live in the Separate Residence/Annex…”
The expression on her face vanished in an instant. Her gaze, as she stared at him, was much colder than it had been in the photos. Yu-jin flinched in surprise and cowered. Like a frog in front of a snake, he couldn’t move, and the Butler standing behind the madam moved.
“I apologize, madam. I will take care of this.”
He spoke as if Yu-jin were an object, grabbing his arm and gesturing to the other employees. Yu-jin desperately shouted, feeling a sense of crisis that he might be dragged away as he was.
“M-Madam, I’m sorry, but I have a request! Please listen to me, please make Harold, make Harold stop what he’s doing to me…!”
He shouted desperately towards Mrs. Campbell, who was about to get back into the car, and she paused again. She slowly turned her head, her brow deeply furrowed. Yu-jin placed his last hope on her and begged repeatedly.
“Harold is, well, he comes to me… I said I didn’t want to, please make him stop… He won’t listen to me. If you tell him…”
Yu-jin was being dragged away helplessly by the employees holding his arms, and he shouted one thing after another. If he missed this opportunity, there would be no other. Please, Mrs. Campbell!
He was shouting at the top of his lungs when suddenly the employees who were dragging him stopped. Yu-jin, who had been struggling with all his might, stopped, panting, and saw Mrs. Campbell standing there looking at him. She had stopped the employees.
Mrs. Campbell raised one hand lightly with a blank face. Then the employees released Yu-jin’s arms and stepped back. Yu-jin stood there, blankly watching Mrs. Campbell walk towards him. His heart was pounding like crazy. Her expression was completely different from what he had expected. The cold gaze she cast on Yu-jin even revealed a hint of anger.
“So.”
Mrs. Campbell finally opened her mouth as she stood in front of Yu-jin. A chill ran down his spine, and Yu-jin began to tremble all over. Looking down at him, Mrs. Campbell continued.
“What did Harold do to you?”
Yu-jin couldn’t answer right away. He opened his mouth, but couldn’t make a sound, and after swallowing hard, he finally spoke.
“He took off my clothes, ah!”
Suddenly, Mrs. Campbell slapped Yu-jin across the cheek. His vision flashed and his whole body staggered. He barely managed to regain his balance, and Mrs. Campbell asked again.
“Say it again.”
“Th-There.”
Yu-jin covered his burning cheek with both hands and stammered. He felt like he was about to cry, but he was too scared to cry. Mrs. Campbell urged him again.
“I said, tell me! What did Harold do?”
“Th-There… He, he took off my clothes… Ah!”
This time, he was slapped on the other cheek. Yu-jin couldn’t withstand it and fell to the ground, but the employees grabbed him and stood him up again.
“Say it again.”
“Madam…….”
“Hurry up!”
Mrs. Campbell screamed at Yu-jin, who was trembling with fear, and before he could answer, she slapped him across the cheek again. Only after being slapped more than ten times on both cheeks alternately did she finally stop hitting him. At the same time, the employees released their grip on Yu-jin, and Yu-jin slumped powerlessly to the floor. Looking down at him, who was unable to come to his senses, Mrs. Campbell opened her mouth.
“If that’s what you’re supposed to do, you should just do it quietly. How dare you come to the main building.”
She spat out the words as if chewing them, then spat at Yu-jin.
“Filthy thing.”
And Mrs. Campbell turned away mercilessly. Yu-jin could only sit there, watching her back as she got into the car and drove away.
Only then did his cheeks begin to sting, and he tasted blood in his mouth. No one spoke to him. They ignored him as if he were not there and went back to their respective tasks. After sitting blankly on the floor for a while, Yu-jin staggered to his feet.
He didn’t remember how he got back to the Separate Residence/Annex. Only after washing himself and lying down on the bed did he realize the reality.
“Hngh…….”
Only then did tears come, and he cried loudly. It’s okay now. No one will say anything even if he cries his heart out.
*I’m alone.*
“Heueoeoeoe…….”
Yu-jin cried and cried loudly. There was no hope. No one would help him. He had given up everything. And time passed meaninglessly, and the day Harold was to come was approaching.
* * *
Haaa.
Yu-jin tossed and turned again. Today had passed safely again. But it could be tomorrow. As the day Harold was to come drew closer, he couldn’t sleep. He was so worried about how strong his pheromone scent had become that he couldn’t even eat. How could he stop his heat cycle? If only he could delay it by even a day, even just a few days.
*Is there any way Harold could forget about me?*
His head was full of nothing but that thought. Yu-jin felt like he was going to have a nervous breakdown.
He had barely fallen into a light sleep when suddenly he heard a knock on the front door. Startled, Yu-jin opened his eyes and lay there, listening intently.
……Huh.
A faint scent wafted in through the open window. A chill ran down his spine in an instant. An unbearable, sweet scent.
*It’s Harold’s pheromone scent.*
He almost fell out of bed in an instant. How? Why? He always had the employee let him know in advance. He had never come at this hour. Could it be that he was planning to do something today? Is that why he came so suddenly? What should I do? What should I do?
*What am I going to do.*
Just as tears welled up in his eyes, he heard a voice from outside the window.
“Yu-jin, Yu-jin! Are you asleep?”
……Huh?
Startled by the unexpected voice, Yu-jin froze.