By Zephyria 
Jin Seon-yu pushed up his slipping sunglasses. He had left the house after a late breakfast. With his appointment with Seo Yi-kyung canceled, he had wandered through the department store to soothe his boredom during the free time. The driver he brought along had shopping bags clutched firmly in both hands.
Jin Seon-yu, who had been walking incessantly, suddenly came to a halt. The driver following behind him almost collided with him.
As Jin Seon-yu leaned his upper body forward, the necklace he was wearing hung long in front of him.
“Are you looking for something in particular?”
An employee approached with a professional smile. Jin Seon-yu pointed with his finger to clothes in a glass display case. A beige autumn coat, and a winter cloak for infants adorned with snowflake-like pom-poms.
“This is a seasonal limited edition product, and the material is—”
“I’ll take it.”
Without needing to hear more, Jin Seon-yu presented his black card. It was a seasonal limited edition, wasn’t it? Then he had to buy it.
“The shoes next to it, and everything displayed inside as well.”
Jin Seon-yu tapped the display case with the card he was holding.
“I will assist you over here.”
Jin Seon-yu followed the employee. He had been meaning to pick out a gift for Yi-kyung anyway, so he thought this was perfect.
Having finished his shopping, Jin Seon-yu got into the car. Sitting in the backseat, he fiddled with the baby clothes he had just purchased. From hard-to-find brushes and tools to a spacious painting studio, Seo Yi-kyung had everything. If there was one thing such a man lacked, wouldn’t this be the perfect gift?
It was raining outside. After passing through the bustling downtown area, the car seemed to be held up by a signal, but soon arrived in front of the house.
Jin Seon-yu rushed inside carrying the shopping bags.
As he entered the house, Jin Seok-young wore a fierce scowl.
“Where have you been again?”
“It’s suffocating just staying at home. And this isn’t for me. I bought it for Yi-kyung.”
Jin Tae-won, who was sitting on the sofa, turned his head. Jin Seon-yu approached, shaking the shopping bag he held. Behind him, the driver was passing by with identical bags in both hands. Surely not all of those were for Seo Yi-kyung. Jin Tae-won asked.
“And you bought some things for yourself too?”
“Ah, Hyung! Look at this. Do you know what I bought?”
Jin Tae-won didn’t say anything more. He had thought Jin Seon-yu would spend days moping at home after breaking off the engagement with Ham Gyu-ho, but since he started visiting the house of the Director who said he painted, Jin Seon-yu’s face had been brightening up little by little.
Meanwhile, Jin Seon-yu pulled out a box and held up the case.
“Ta-da!”
Jin Seok-young approached and looked down.
“Why is it so small?”
“It’s baby clothes.”
As he spoke, Jin Tae-won paused, habitually putting a cigarette in his mouth. Jin Seon-yu took out the tiny cloak and fluttered it in front of his eyes.
“Pretty, right? I’m going to give it to Yi-kyung as a gift.”
* * *
Knock, knock—
Butler Do knocked on the door. The door opened slowly, and a maid stepped back, softly telling him to come inside.
Seo Yi-kyung stood with a calm expression before passing her by.
The room was filled to the brim with lavish decorations. The chairs placed around were all of different shapes. The candlesticks and expensive ornaments on the shelves, and flowers with a strong scent and vibrant life. They were all things Lee Se-hee liked.
Looking at Lee Se-hee lying on the bed, Seo Yi-kyung approached. She was lying there with an ice pack on her head. Despite claiming to be sick, she was wearing makeup and had jewelry on her neck, arms, and fingers.
At the very least, she should have an IV needle inserted or be receiving fluids. To anyone, it looked like she was faking it.
“Yi-kyung, have you come?”
Lee Se-hee’s voice flowed out feebly. Struggling to lift her eyelids, Lee Se-hee looked up at Seo Yi-kyung.
“Please sit here, Young Master.”
Butler Do brought a chair and prepared a spot for Seo Yi-kyung to sit. However, Seo Yi-kyung continued to look down at Lee Se-hee as if the chair were invisible.
“I heard you were sick?”
Lee Se-hee moved as if to show the ice pack on her forehead more clearly.
“Yes. These days, there isn’t a part of me that doesn’t hurt. As winter approaches, my hands and feet feel even colder…”
“Then you should call a doctor. Why did you call me?”
Lee Se-hee barely caught the ice pack that had almost fallen from her forehead and stared at Seo Yi-kyung, blinking. She pondered how to take the words she had just heard. If it had been the original Seo Yi-kyung, he would have grabbed her hands and massaged them repeatedly before she even finished speaking. But no matter how long she waited, there was no sign of such a thing.
“….”
An eerie silence settled in the room.
“Young Master.”
Butler Do called him softly. Please sit in the chair and speak… But because the surroundings were so quiet, it sounded louder.
“Butler Do.”
Likewise, Seo Yi-kyung’s words were delivered clearly and distinctly.
“Please give me the contact information of the doctor who treated me last time. He seems to be very skilled.”
Because he had poured cold water over himself in the bathtub, Seo Yi-kyung’s boiling fever had broken in a single day. Once he applied the medicine the doctor prescribed, the wounds inside his mouth, his throat, and his cheeks healed quickly. He was a physician skilled enough for Han Seung-jae to invite into his own home. He was a master.
“It seems you need him more than my help.”
Lee Se-hee dropped the ice pack onto the pillow and struggled to raise her upper body by bracing herself against the bed. Whether it was acting or due to shock, her body swayed back and forth, and the maid beside her supported her like a well-rehearsed script.
“Now that I’ve seen your face, I’ll be going.”
The voice and face were the same, but Seo Yi-kyung’s manner of speaking was strange. Lee Se-hee looked him up and down and asked.
“Are you… really Yi-kyung?”
Seo Yi-kyung turned around as if he hadn’t heard her. Now that he had confirmed she wasn’t sick, all that remained was to go back. Han Seung-jae would be arriving soon. He had to get out of here before then.
As Seo Yi-kyung headed for the door, Lee Se-hee lowered her legs from the bed.
“Yi-kyung.”
Just then, the door burst open and Seo Dong-hu entered, glaring. He thrust the long sword he held in his hand forward. The blade, which had been very well-polished, emitted a flash of light.
Butler Do hurriedly stepped in front of Seo Yi-kyung.
“Vice President, please stay calm. This will truly lead to a disaster.”
Butler Do reached out with both hands, trying to soothe Seo Dong-hu.
Behind him, Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze landed on one spot. The sword Seo Dong-hu was holding looked familiar. A sword with an eagle shape engraved on the hilt. Where had he seen it? Soon, the catalog of auction items that Han Seung-jae had shown him flashed before his eyes.
‘Did he buy that?’
Seo Yi-kyung hadn’t been able to stay until the end. He had accidentally pressed the wrong button and bought a pocket watch necklace, and then left the auction house after Han Seung-jae bought a hat. Therefore, he didn’t know what happened to that sword. To think it was here, and held by Seo Dong-hu of all people.
“Get out of the way. Before I cut you down first.”
Seo Dong-hu’s gaze was precarious. Butler Do instinctively swallowed hard. It felt like he was really going to cause a major incident. The two hands Butler Do held out in front trembled slightly. Seo Yi-kyung spoke in a calm tone.
“Seung-jae will be here soon.”
Seo Yi-kyung didn’t mention that Han Seung-jae wouldn’t be coming inside, but was simply coming to pick him up.
“What?! Why would Director Han come here?”
As if cold water had been poured over a feverish body, the sword Seo Dong-hu was extending shook. Han Seung-jae was likely the person he least wanted to meet.
That was why, in the original story, he had shaken ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ like that. While being unable to say a word to Han Seung-jae, who actually held the money.
“Put the sword down.”
Although it was an artifact, it was still capable of stabbing and injuring a person.
At Seo Yi-kyung’s words, Seo Dong-hu looked down at the sword he was holding. Soon after, he raised his head and glared at Seo Yi-kyung.
“It’s a lie that Director Han is coming, right? Who are you trying to fool! Do you think I’d fall for such wordplay?”
It was the moment Seo Dong-hu was about to sneer. Butler Do, who had been sandwiched between the two, chimed in.
“It is not. He said he was coming this way.”
The smile vanished from Seo Dong-hu’s face. He moved the sword up and down and began to curse.
“Ha, fuck. Hey—Seo Yi-kyung.”
“….”
Hidden by Butler Do’s shoulder, only half of Seo Yi-kyung’s body was visible. He didn’t give any answer, but Seo Dong-hu didn’t care. He had just been told Han Seung-jae was coming. Therefore, he had to handle this quickly.
“You buy this sword.”
Seo Dong-hu lowered the long sword he was holding. His previous momentum was gone, and he spoke rapidly, mixing in curses.
“This fucking thing, I bought it for eight billion won because of Director Han, but I don’t need it.”
Butler Do’s eyes widened.
At the same time, Seo Yi-kyung felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He bought that for eight billion won?
However, Han Seung-jae had also purchased a hat someone had used for 6.7 billion won. But he never dreamed that Seo Dong-hu would do something even more extreme.