By Zephyria 
30 minutes ago.
“Sit.”
Following Seo Young-hwan into the study, Seo Yi-kyung looked around. The atmosphere here was distinctly different from Han Seung-jae’s study. That was to be expected, as Han Seung-jae primarily used his study to display his collections.
However, this place was close to simplicity in every aspect: a desk and chair with a metal stand, a leather sofa and a table with a prominent wood grain, and thick books lining the shelves. The only peculiar thing was an object next to the desk covered with a cloth.
Seo Yi-kyung’s indifferent gaze drifted toward the window. Rain was beating against the glass.
As Seo Yi-kyung sat on the sofa, a maid entered through the open door and placed tea in front of the two men.
After gesturing for the maid to leave, Seo Young-hwan spoke to Butler Do.
“You may leave as well.”
Butler Do’s lips trembled as if he were flustered. Seo Yi-kyung had clearly come to see the face of his ailing mother. Between Seo Dong-hu’s behavior earlier and Seo Young-hwan’s expression, both were equally terrifying in their own way. If he left Seo Yi-kyung alone with him, there was no telling what hurtful words might be spat out. However, Seo Yi-kyung’s voice was faster than the butler’s response. He was currently staring at his wristwatch.
“Butler Do, I’ll be leaving immediately, so please have the car ready.”
Butler Do glanced at Seo Yi-kyung once, gave a short affirmative response, and turned around. Pulling his phone from his inner pocket, he closed the open door and exited the study.
“You’ve changed.”
Seo Young-hwan’s dignified voice echoed through the study. Seo Yi-kyung, who had been staring at his watch until that moment, lifted his head to meet his gaze. Was it an illusion, or had the wrinkles around the man’s eyes deepened? He looked as if he were enduring something.
However, Yi-kyung had no desire to know such inner workings. His mind was filled only with the thought that he had to return before Han Seung-jae arrived.
If Han Seung-jae, with his keen intuition, saw this series of actions, he would undoubtedly be suspicious. After all, Yi-kyung was acting and speaking in ways the previous version of himself never could have.
“If you have something to say, please say it quickly. I don’t have much time.”
Seo Yi-kyung was poised to stand up at any moment. No matter what Seo Young-hwan said, Yi-kyung’s responses were monotonically dry.
‘I have no money.’ ‘I cannot help.’ ‘Tell Seung-jae directly.’ Those would be the only answers.
In contrast, Seo Young-hwan, who had been about to drink his tea, withdrew his hand and murmured.
“Spending time with Director Han has truly changed you a lot.”
“If you’re just going to lament, I’ll be going now. I don’t think there’s any need for me to stay.”
“You are gravely mistaken.”
“…….”
Seo Yi-kyung, who had been about to push himself up from his knees, stared straight ahead.
“How long do you think Director Han will continue to listen to you?”
Seo Yi-kyung considered which of his three prepared answers to use. However, he soon let out a sigh and spoke different words. It didn’t matter which one he chose.
“Seung-jae doesn’t listen to me even now.”
It wasn’t a lie. If he were such an easy person to deceive, he would have accepted any painting Yi-kyung gave him. He wouldn’t have needed to come all the way here just to avoid Han Seung-jae’s suspicion.
Perhaps because of the unexpected response, a hint of anger colored Seo Young-hwan’s voice.
“What will you do if Director Han finds another Omega?”
For some reason, Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t find the words to retort immediately. He was well aware that Han Seung-jae might find someone else, yet a part of his chest felt a sharp, stinging pain.
“Rather than becoming like strangers while being family, wouldn’t it be to your benefit to establish a safeguard for that time?”
Seo Yi-kyung looked down at his throbbing chest.
He already knew about the relationship between Han Seung-jae and the recessive Omega, Min Ra-hyeon. It wasn’t a surprising fact. But why did he suddenly feel pain in his chest?
It was probably nothing. He was likely just feeling stifled because of Seo Young-hwan. Dismissing the chest pain as insignificant, Seo Yi-kyung decided to end the conversation quickly.
“I can’t do anything for you. You know that well.”
Seo Yi-kyung thought of the worn canvases and tools in the painting studio. The people who had sent him off with only those as a dowry were truly shameless.
Furthermore, Seo Young-hwan had explicitly told ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ to live as if he were dead in that house. That meant he was to stay curled up, seeing nothing and hearing nothing, regardless of what Han Seung-jae did or who he met.
Seo Young-hwan was well aware of how promiscuous Han Seung-jae’s father, Han Yechan, was. Since the father was like that, there was no reason to believe Director Han, who inherited that blood, would be any different. He had clearly spoken with that fact in mind.
“And… I don’t care who Seung-jae meets.”
Watching Seo Yi-kyung’s calm expression, Seo Young-hwan stood up and approached the desk. Seo Yi-kyung also straightened his legs. He felt it was time to go. Too much time had already passed.
“For someone with such a loose tongue, you’re quite good at saying things you don’t actually mean.”
Seo Yi-kyung turned his head as he prepared to move. Seo Young-hwan abruptly ripped away the cloth covering the object next to the desk. A canvas densely painted with cherry blossom petals was revealed.
“…….”
For a long time, Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t utter a word. He forgot about leaving the study, and he even forgot to breathe. The painting before him completely stole his gaze. Because of this, he had no choice but to listen to Seo Young-hwan’s words.
“I am not unaware of the feelings you had while painting this.”
There were dozens of similar paintings in the studio at the main house. Some were left unfinished, and some were completed but continuously repainted because they didn’t meet his standards. And Seo Dong-hu, who had watched this, had hidden this painting.
“You probably intended to show it to Director Han and tell him your feelings.”
Seo Young-hwan intended to return this canvas, which Seo Dong-hu had taken on a whim, to Seo Yi-kyung to soothe his lingering resentment.
“Take it.”
However, contrary to Seo Young-hwan’s thoughts, the effect on Seo Yi-kyung’s face seemed to be the opposite.
“A landscape painting of fluttering cherry blossoms……”
Suddenly, the back of his throat felt searingly hot. Feeling a wave of repulsion, Seo Yi-kyung covered his mouth. Because of this, Seo Young-hwan couldn’t understand him properly.
Soon after, Seo Yi-kyung staggered and opened the study door as if fleeing.
Butler Do, who had been leaning against the wall, asked with a bewildered face. Seo Yi-kyung looked utterly terrified.
“Young Master, what is the matter?”
Without answering, Seo Yi-kyung continued walking.
Butler Do looked inside the open study. Seo Young-hwan was standing there with gleaming eyes. Beside him, the canvas rested on an easel.
Step, step… Walking hurriedly, Seo Yi-kyung lowered his hand. Breath began to flow raggedly through his parted lips.
In the original story, while preparing to leave this house before the wedding, ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ had looked through his canvases to select which paintings to take. He couldn’t take all the numerous paintings he had drawn since childhood. Beside him, Butler Do had helped by taking charge of the tools.
‘Right. Seo Dong-hu, who frequented the place, hid it and then brought it back.’
He remembered the anecdote of Seo Dong-hu handing over the landscape painting of fluttering cherry blossoms. Why had he forgotten? He had used that as a pretext to extort money. There were so many similar incidents that he had simply forgotten.
Seo Yi-kyung quickly exited the front door. None of the people passing by entered his sight. His only thought was that he had to get out of here.
That night, in the early hours of the dawn, Seo Yi-kyung had held a gun to his head while looking at that canvas.
—I am not unaware of the feelings you had while painting this. You probably intended to show it to Director Han and tell him your feelings.
He couldn’t deny the fact that ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ had loved Han Seung-jae. The only thing that wasn’t clear was Han Seung-jae’s feelings.
However, Seo Dong-hu had ruined everything just as he was about to confess to convey his heart. He had hidden the painting, and by the time he brought it back, it was already a point where it was no longer needed.
‘It’s too late. It’s far, far too late.’
As he stepped outside, a drizzle poured onto Seo Yi-kyung’s slender hair. Despite that, his vision remained blurred. Without a clear focus, he moved forward, and forward.
Thump. Suddenly, Seo Yi-kyung realized he had bumped into something. As he slowly lifted his head, he saw Han Seung-jae looking down at him with cold features. Han Seung-jae held a tablet PC over Seo Yi-kyung’s head.
“Did you have a good meeting with your mother?”
Han Seung-jae’s words sounded like a humming drone in Seo Yi-kyung’s ears. It was because his heart was pounding violently.
Just as Seo Yi-kyung tried to step back, Secretary Park tilted a black umbrella over them.
With the hand holding the tablet PC, Han Seung-jae wrapped his arm around Seo Yi-kyung’s back and pulled him in. Seo Yi-kyung’s slender body was drawn into his embrace.