By Zephyria 
Returning to his room, Seo Yi-kyung gazed blankly at the bed. The sheets were pushed aside where he had gotten up, leaving behind traces of where someone had been sitting. His body, which had been stiff with tension, began to relax little by little.
Step, step. Seo Yi-kyung stared at the baby shoes placed on the nightstand before picking them up. They were light and tiny. The sensation of them fitting into the palm of his hand was soft.
He couldn’t easily figure out how to take Han Seung-jae’s words. Seo Yi-kyung sat heavily on the bed and, with his head bowed, stroked his flat stomach.
His upper body tilted to the side as he flopped over onto his side. He placed the baby shoes back on the nightstand.
Still, he said he would go to the hospital. Does that mean he intends to take those words literally?
* * *
The next day, Seo Yi-kyung snapped his eyes open. He pushed himself up, disheveled. The duvet that had covered him up to his shoulders slid down. Perhaps it was because his vision was hazy, but it was ambiguous whether the events of last night were a dream or reality.
Seo Yi-kyung pushed away the duvet that had rolled down to his waist and rubbed his stiff eyes. He had waited in case Han Seung-jae returned after finishing his work in the study, but he had no way of knowing when the man had come or gone.
Seo Yi-kyung went into the bathroom for a light wash and then left the bedroom. He bypassed the elevator and took the stairs to reach the first floor.
“Young Master.”
Butler Do, who had been talking to a helper, spotted Seo Yi-kyung and approached him. He was looking at Seo Yi-kyung with eyes full of emotion. It couldn’t be an illusion that there was a slight tremble in his voice.
“……?”
Seo Yi-kyung’s doubt lasted only a moment.
“Why didn’t you tell us? Was your visit to the hospital also because of the child?”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted. However, the excited Butler Do continued.
“If there is any food you crave or any fruit you feel like eating, please tell me immediately.”
“I—”
The words that barely managed to leak out were drowned out by Butler Do’s elated voice.
“Director Han spoke to me this morning.”
“Seung-jae did?”
Seo Yi-kyung asked back in surprise. Butler Do nodded vigorously.
“He told me to take care of you well, ensuring you lack for nothing.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted slightly, and a short puff of air escaped. It seemed the events of last night were indeed not a dream.
“Where is Seung-jae now……”
Seo Yi-kyung asked, looking around. His gaze returned from the wall. It was 11:00 AM. He had fallen fast asleep while waiting for Han Seung-jae and had overslept.
“He has already left for work. He is likely at the office, isn’t he?”
At Seo Yi-kyung’s words, Butler Do answered sincerely with a serious face.
“Then I shall prepare a meal.”
Seo Yi-kyung headed toward the dressing room with a lukewarm expression, as if he had asked something unnecessary. Even if he met Han Seung-jae, it wasn’t as if he had anything specific to say. He had asked everything he wanted to ask yesterday, and he had received answers. Even so, he couldn’t understand why he had suddenly looked for him.
Seo Yi-kyung took off his pajamas, changed his clothes, and came out. Afterward, upon entering the dining room following Butler Do, Seo Yi-kyung was amazed. It wasn’t even his birthday, yet facing a table full of delicacies, Seo Yi-kyung picked up his chopsticks. It seemed impossible to eat all of this, but it was difficult to ignore the sincerity of Butler Do, who stood beside him with a joyful face.
“Ah, at home.”
Butler Do’s movement while pouring a glass of water stopped. Seo Yi-kyung stopped moving his chopsticks and looked at him.
“Please don’t say anything.”
Butler Do’s face stiffened. He seemed to reflect on Seo Yi-kyung’s words once more before nodding.
“I shall do so.”
Butler Do placed the water glass beside Seo Yi-kyung, who was putting a small amount of rice into his mouth. If Seo Dong-hu found out about the pregnancy, he would come rushing over immediately—under the guise of offering congratulations. Then, after a heated argument demanding payment for the sword, there was a high possibility he would use force if Seo Yi-kyung did not move according to his will.
As he moved a plate in front of Seo Yi-kyung, who was calmly eating, he suppressed the sudden surge of worry.
Since getting married, Seo Yi-kyung had shown a resolute side several times. To the point where it was hard to believe he was the Young Master Butler Do once knew. Furthermore, worrying excessively would not be good for Seo Yi-kyung’s health. As he said, it would be fine to inform the main house of this fact a little later.
Butler Do smiled.
“Is the food to your liking? If it is difficult to eat, please do not force yourself and be sure to tell me. I will prepare something else immediately.”
* * *
Myungjun Financial Group, Director’s Office.
Knock, knock. After a low knocking sound, the door opened. Han Seung-jae paid no particular attention as the sound of dress shoes drew closer. Secretary Park, having reached the desk, placed a white envelope on it.
Han Seung-jae’s attitude, which had seemed to trust Seo Yi-kyung, vanished from that day onward, and it felt as if things had returned to the past. Perhaps he had been patient enough. However, Han Seung-jae paid no attention to the envelope Secretary Park set down. He seemed to have no intention of looking inside.
“President Han has asked to have lunch with you. How would you like to proceed?”
At Secretary Park’s question, Han Seung-jae finished signing and looked at the wristwatch on his left wrist. It was 11:30.
“Is there a reason I should get indigestion during lunch?”
Han Seung-jae spoke concisely and closed the approval documents he had been reviewing.
“Let’s go now.”
Regardless, it was certain that his father’s mood would be foul because Han Seung-jae had avoided visiting him under the pretext of meetings. Therefore, it was obvious he wouldn’t be saying anything pleasant. In the first place, it was rare for any welcoming words to come out of his father’s mouth.
Secretary Park moved to pick up the suit jacket Han Seung-jae had taken off. Han Seung-jae stood up and picked up the white envelope.
He opened a drawer and dropped the envelope inside. Then, after closing the drawer, he slid his long arms into the dark suit jacket handed to him. He fastened the buttons and passed Secretary Park, who was holding the door open, to leave the Director’s Office.
Ding. With a clear sound, the elevator doors opened on the upper floor. The employees stationed in front of the President’s Office hurriedly stood up toward the suddenly appearing Han Seung-jae.
“Director Han, how did you come without notice……”
He couldn’t finish his sentence; Han Seung-jae’s gaze pushed him aside as he turned and knocked on the door. At the sound of the knock, Secretary Kang, who was inside, came out and stepped back upon seeing Han Seung-jae.
As Han Seung-jae entered the President’s Office, Han Yechan, who seemed to have been on the phone while sitting on the sofa, looked at him with an arrogant posture, phone still to his ear. Han Seung-jae walked straight over and sat on the sofa. An employee who followed him in placed a cup of coffee in front of Han Seung-jae.
“Right, right. Let’s meet there then.”
Once Han Yechan finished the call, Secretary Kang took the phone.
“I was actually planning to have a chat over lunch. Has it already become that time?”
Perhaps because Han Seung-jae had come of his own accord, Han Yechan, wearing a satisfied smile, checked the time and called Secretary Kang as if preparing to leave.
“Bring my clothes.”
However, Han Seung-jae spoke while leaning back against the sofa.
“If you have something to say, say it now. I’m busy.”
There was no need to call it a ‘chat.’ It would either be a reprimand for Seo Yi-kyung, who had never shown his face at the family banquets, or it would be about work. He didn’t feel the need to change locations just to hear such things.
Secretary Kang, who was bringing the outer coat and tie, stopped and glanced around. Han Seung-jae’s profile, glimpsed slightly, was excessively cold. It was as if he didn’t even keep in mind that the person he was facing was his father. To that extent, there was no warmth in the gaze Han Seung-jae directed at his father, Han Yechan.
“I thought I’d have lunch with you for once.”
The smile faded from Han Yechan’s lips. He frowned with a displeased expression and then gestured toward Secretary Kang. Secretary Kang took back the clothes and tie he was holding and left through the door.
Only the two of them remained in the President’s Office. Throwing aside all decorum, Han Yechan tapped the armrest of the sofa and raised his voice.
“How long are you going to act so prickly? You don’t even visit the house. And if you’re that busy, couldn’t you just send Yi-kyung instead?”
“Actually—”
Han Yechan judged that Han Seung-jae was about to say he would send Seo Yi-kyung according to his wishes.
“Yes. If you’re busy, you can just send someone to replace you. I can’t believe I have to tell you every single thing like this.”
“He’s pregnant.”
“Tsk tsk. I wonder how CEO Seo has been teaching that child.”
Clicking his tongue, Han Yechan asked, as if he had belatedly understood Han Seung-jae’s indifferent words.
“What did you just say? That child, has what?”
“My child.”
There was no great change in Han Seung-jae’s face. Rather, Han Yechan, who had been entirely critical until a moment ago, changed his expression and spoke.
“Is that true? So, did he say he’s an Alpha? And if such a thing happened, why didn’t you tell me sooner? Now I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”
Han Yechan’s expression changed as if a long-held desire had been fulfilled. Han Seung-jae looked at him and spoke coldly.
“Would you not see him if he were an Omega?”