By Zephyria 
“I heard this is really effective at preventing morning sickness.”
Jin Seon-yu spoke with a look of absolute conviction. Instead of answering, Seo Yi-kyung let out a soft laugh. He felt as though, at this rate, he would have to wear them not only on both wrists but around his ankles as well.
“Thank you.”
Seo Yi-kyung accepted the velvet box. Whether it worked or not wasn’t what mattered to him. He could almost picture Jin Seon-yu agonizing over which gift to buy for him. For a moment, the thought crossed his mind—would Han Seung-jae have been like that too?
Probably not. It was more likely that he had bought his out of a partial sense of responsibility for having broken Yi-kyung’s bracelet.
“Make sure you wear it.”
Jin Seon-yu added with a serious expression.
“Your complexion looks even worse than the last time I saw you.”
Though he had already felt the effects of the bracelet, Seo Yi-kyung said nothing about it and simply nodded, clutching the velvet box.
“I will.”
Butler Do carefully placed the tea he had brought on the edge of the table. He filled the two teacups and turned to leave. To avoid disturbing Seo Yi-kyung, who looked happier than he had in a long time, Butler Do made a conscious effort to move silently.
“Have some tea first.”
Seo Yi-kyung slipped the velvet box into his cardigan pocket and held out a teacup toward Jin Seon-yu. As Seon-yu, who had been examining the shopping bags, took the cup, Seo Yi-kyung asked.
“Aren’t you meeting anyone else since it’s Christmas?”
While he was certainly grateful and happy that Seon-yu had come all this way with so many gifts, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was the only person Seon-yu had to meet on such a wonderful day.
“Ah.”
Jin Seon-yu opened his mouth briefly, then took a small sip of tea. Soon, unable to hold it in, he spoke.
“Actually, I’m meeting Gi-jun this evening.”
At the unexpected news, Seo Yi-kyung pulled the teacup away from his lips.
“Didn’t Kwon Gwi-jun say he would contact you last time?”
Had things been resolved then? Seo Yi-kyung’s question was answered immediately.
“He called several times, but I just didn’t answer. I was busy, and…”
Perhaps Seon-yu wondered if Yi-kyung had been waiting for the contact. Looking at Jin Seon-yu’s hesitant expression, that thought occurred to him. Still, since they had agreed to meet this evening, he hoped things would improve if they talked it through.
Jin Seon-yu set his teacup on the table and said,
“But since it’s just dinner, I don’t need to give him a gift, right?”
Seo Yi-kyung blinked. Jin Seon-yu was the type of person who loved giving things to others. It was a bit surprising that Kwon Gwi-jun was included in that category, but still.
While he was pondering what advice to give, Jin Seon-yu added, “I’ve prepared something just in case. I’m just not sure if I should give it to him or not.”
“Wouldn’t he be happy if you did?”
Seo Yi-kyung suggested tentatively. However, there was no certainty on Jin Seon-yu’s face. He was clearly still wavering.
But Seo Yi-kyung could understand why Seon-yu was so conflicted. The two had been friends for quite a long time, after all. Whether their relationship was good or bad, and regardless of who had introduced them.
After chatting with Jin Seon-yu for a while, Seo Yi-kyung left the drawing room and locked eyes with Min Ra-hyeon, who was leaning against the wall watching them.
Jin Seon-yu seemed to look in the same direction before turning back to Seo Yi-kyung.
“I saw an art exhibition being held on my way here. Let’s go see it together next time.”
Seo Yi-kyung answered immediately without a second thought.
“Sure.”
He had been staying inside the house for a while. Going to see paintings with Jin Seon-yu would give him some mental breathing room and help refresh his mood.
Seo Yi-kyung passed through the entrance and went out into the garden. In the garden, which still held the essence of winter, a Christmas tree had been erected by workers who had visited since the morning.
Standing beneath it, Jin Seon-yu spoke.
“It really feels like Christmas here. At my house, there are only arrogant Hyungs, so no matter how much I say, they have no interest.”
However, Seo Yi-kyung had seen how Jin Tae-won and Jin Seok-young behaved at Alpha gatherings in the original novel. Although the focus was primarily on the protagonist, Han Seung-jae, he could tell that the two cherished Jin Seon-yu, the Omega. They just didn’t know how to express it.
“Go on inside. You’ll catch a cold.”
Despite Jin Seon-yu’s words, Seo Yi-kyung remained stationary. It wasn’t that he wasn’t cold, but since Seon-yu had come all this way for Christmas, he wanted to see him off until the end.
Seo Yi-kyung watched until Jin Seon-yu got into the car he had driven himself and waved goodbye, then returned to the garden.
Step by step, Seo Yi-kyung’s pace slowed until he stopped. His breath puffed out in small clouds from his lips. Staring at the tree, which required him to tilt his head far back to see the top, he recalled the conversation he had with Han Seung-jae the previous day.
—Have you not eaten dinner until now?
—…
—It’s not like you were waiting for me.
Han Seung-jae’s handsome features were tinged with coldness.
—I guess that accessory has no effect at all.
As if drawn by Han Seung-jae’s words, Seo Yi-kyung had looked at the bracelet on his wrist before looking up.
—Tomorrow… I’d like to have dinner together…
While Seo Yi-kyung spoke, Han Seung-jae simply listened in silence. This made Seo Yi-kyung wonder if his voice hadn’t reached him, so he continued.
—Could you do that for me?
—Fine.
Unlike Seo Yi-kyung, who had struggled to speak, Han Seung-jae had responded in a very concise tone devoid of emotion.
And yet, when he woke up today, a Christmas tree full of green leaves had been erected in the garden where only bare trees had stood, and Han Seung-jae hadn’t gone to work. Was it simply to have dinner together, or had he intended to work from home all along?
Either way, it didn’t matter.
Seo Yi-kyung put his hands in the pockets of his cardigan. Fiddling with the velvet box that fit in his palm, he began to walk.
* * *
“Were you outside?”
As he entered the house, Butler Do, who had been moving about the living room, approached him. Seo Yi-kyung touched his cheek. It was cold.
“You can share the wagashi Seon-yu brought.”
He couldn’t possibly eat all those sweets by himself anyway.
“What should I do with the other things?”
At Butler Do’s question, Seo Yi-kyung pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Please put them in the painting studio.”
The studio had now become something of a private space. A place where he painted, rested, and looked out at the garden. Seo Yi-kyung felt a sense of comfort there.
“Understood.”
Butler Do agreed readily and started to walk away. Just then, Seo Yi-kyung stopped him.
“Butler Do.”
“Yes.”
Butler Do turned to look at Seo Yi-kyung.
“Has he not come down from the second floor yet?”
Even though he phrased it that way, Butler Do seemed to understand and answered.
“Yes, he is in the study. Secretary Park is likely with him.”
Seo Yi-kyung had seen Secretary Park going up as he was coming down.
“Did you bring him something to drink?”
To Seo Yi-kyung’s question, Butler Do shook his head.
“No. Director Han does not like to be disturbed, so I did not bring him any tea.”
Han Seung-jae was not the type to eat or drink while working. Rather, when he was in the study, he disliked being interrupted by anyone.
Seo Yi-kyung said,
“Then please prepare some wagashi and tea.”
“I will let you know once they are ready.”
Butler Do walked away quickly. Seo Yi-kyung looked down at his clothes. His clean attire was flawless. He no longer wore clothes that got stained with paint, nor did he wander around in pajamas.
Maybe it would be better to take off the cardigan. He had put it on because it was cold, but he felt it might not suit him well. Just as Seo Yi-kyung was fiddling with the sleeve…
“Yi-kyung.”
Seo Yi-kyung turned his head while clutching the cardigan. Min Ra-hyeon was approaching. Seo Yi-kyung lowered his arm and faced him with a calm expression. In truth, this wasn’t the first time their eyes had met. They had crossed paths several times, but each time, Min Ra-hyeon had avoided him.
“Earlier, wasn’t that an Omega?”
He must be referring to Jin Seon-yu. He was a dominant Omega. What of it?
“How can you let an Omega into the house?”
“Why does that matter?”
At Seo Yi-kyung’s words, Min Ra-hyeon whispered quickly, as if frustrated.
“Seung-jae hates the scent of Omegas; do you still not know that?”
Seo Yi-kyung stood motionless for a while. There was a high possibility that Han Seung-jae’s preference stemmed from his father.
“Anyway, don’t let them in the house next time.”
Having said his piece, Min Ra-hyeon turned away. As Seo Yi-kyung watched him, Butler Do approached. The tray he held contained tea and wagashi. It was unknown if Han Seung-jae would eat them, but Butler Do had arranged them neatly with the chef’s help.
“Is something wrong, Young Master?”
Entering the elevator, Seo Yi-kyung sank into thought in silence.
Didn’t Han Seung-jae already know Jin Seon-yu? And he judged that there was no way Han Seung-jae wouldn’t know that Seon-yu was visiting the house. That was part of why he hadn’t said anything. Moreover, since Han Seung-jae hadn’t said anything despite knowing, he had assumed it was fine. Had he actually been displeased?
But wasn’t Min Ra-hyeon also an Omega? However, he was a recessive Omega, so he had virtually no scent. It was merely faint.
As he stepped off on the second floor, Seo Yi-kyung cleared his mind.
Butler Do, who had arrived in front of the study door, turned to look down at Seo Yi-kyung. Even then, Seo Yi-kyung’s expression was not good. His complexion was the polar opposite of when he had intended to bring the tea to the study. It wouldn’t have been strange if he had decided to go back. Then, without so much as a knock, the study door opened.
Despite the suddenness, Secretary Park’s expression remained nearly blank. He stepped back slowly, allowing Seo Yi-kyung to enter first. Then, Han Seung-jae, who had been sitting at his desk, looked up. He stared at Butler Do, who was walking ahead. Behind him, Seo Yi-kyung’s figure appeared and disappeared repeatedly, obscured by Butler Do.
“I have prepared the tea.”
Saying this, Butler Do carefully placed the tray on one side of the desk. Han Seung-jae closed the documents he had been reviewing and set them on the opposite side. With that alone, Butler Do seemed to have received permission; he placed the teacup in the empty space and tilted the teapot.
After filling the cup, Butler Do turned and left. Han Seung-jae, watching the steam rise from the teacup, lifted his gaze to look at Seo Yi-kyung standing before the desk.