By Zephyria 
“I understand. I will have it ready shortly, so please wait a moment on the sofa.”
Seo Yi-kyung watched Butler Do’s retreating back as he headed inside and turned away. He considered waiting for Butler Do while standing, but instead, he walked over to the sofa and took a seat.
He, too, had been scurrying about in an effort to wake Jin Seon-yu.
Furthermore, throughout the ride home, he had been on edge and tense, trying to read Han Seung-jae’s mood in the car, leaving his entire body drained of strength.
—Do you want to come down? Or should I go up?
Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes grew clouded with thought. Han Seung-jae’s voice, heard through the phone, had been laced with coldness.
He hadn’t intended to push Han Seung-jae aside at that moment. It wasn’t with that intention that he had stayed by Jin Seon-yu’s side in that room until Jin Seok-young arrived.
However, if the same thing happened again, Seo Yi-kyung would make the exact same choice. For him, it wasn’t a matter of who was more or less important. The two of them were not subjects for comparison. To Seo Yi-kyung, the two men held entirely different meanings.
“Young Master. The refreshments to be taken to the study are ready.”
Seo Yi-kyung slowly straightened his knees.
Stepping into the elevator, Seo Yi-kyung suddenly stared at his reflection in the door, dressed in pajamas. Perhaps he should have changed. For some reason, the loose waist of the fluttering clothes looked utterly shabby, drawing his attention.
Step, step. Butler Do walked ahead and approached the door of the study. After confirming that Seo Yi-kyung was following slowly behind him, he knocked on the door in sync with his pace.
Knock, knock.
Butler Do gripped the doorknob and gently opened the door.
“Director Han, I have brought your tea.”
It was the moment Seo Yi-kyung was about to step inside the room. Han Seung-jae looked up and spoke heartlessly.
“I don’t think I feel like drinking any.”
At that, Seo Yi-kyung’s steps came to a dead halt. He took in the sight of Han Seung-jae sitting at the desk. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t flustered. In truth, Seo Yi-kyung hadn’t imagined for a second that Han Seung-jae would say such a thing.
Whenever he brought tea to the study, Han Seung-jae would always stop his work to welcome him. Perhaps he had simply assumed it would be the same this time. And since Han Seung-jae had seemed no different than usual in the car, he might have thought Han Seung-jae was unfazed. But it seemed Han Seung-jae was not.
…Ultimately, Seo Yi-kyung withdrew the tip of his foot that he had placed inside the study. As he turned to leave, he slowly lowered his head.
“M-my apologies, Director Han. I did not intend to disturb you… I am truly sorry.”
Butler Do, who had been standing there bewildered, apologized repeatedly as he closed the open door. It was unclear what he was apologizing for. He simply acted reflexively, feeling as though he had to do something on Seo Yi-kyung’s behalf.
Standing with his back to the closed study door, Seo Yi-kyung’s shoulders looked small and frail. Butler Do stood there holding the tray, unable to do anything, looking on with pitying eyes. Nevertheless, seeing Seo Yi-kyung’s despondent back, he managed to squeeze out a few words of comfort.
“It is likely because he has a lot of work. Is he not a very busy man?”
Seo Yi-kyung slowly raised his head and murmured, “Butler Do.”
“…Yes? Yes. I understand. I will be right back.”
Butler Do, who had been listening intently to Seo Yi-kyung, walked down the stairs without looking back. He set down the tray containing the teapot, teacups, and the plate of refreshments, and busily gathered the things Seo Yi-kyung had requested.
* * *
Knock, knock.
Butler Do knocked on the study door. However, unlike before, there was a hint of fear in his eyes. It was more so because he had been rejected once already. And since there was no guarantee that the rejection wouldn’t happen a second time, he felt even more intimidated.
Still, Butler Do opened the door and spoke.
“Director Han.”
When Han Seung-jae, sitting at the desk, looked straight ahead, Butler Do felt his knees tremble. However, for the sake of Seo Yi-kyung behind him, he summoned more courage.
“I have brought the liquor you enjoy.”
Butler Do intentionally added that it was something Han Seung-jae enjoyed. The liquor Han Seung-jae particularly liked was high-proof whiskey. Thus, it was an earnest plea embedded in the words, asking him please not to reject Seo Yi-kyung this time.
—Butler Do, instead of tea, please bring the liquor Seung-jae likes.
A moment ago, Seo Yi-kyung had raised his despondent face and calmly made that request. Though he had been rejected when bringing tea, Seo Yi-kyung seemed intent on trying again by switching it to liquor. Because of that, Butler Do had quickly gone down and returned.
“…….”
A heavy silence settled in the study. He wasn’t rejected immediately as before, but neither did Han Seung-jae tell him to come in. Thus, Seo Yi-kyung simply stood at the door as if waiting for Han Seung-jae’s word, unable to take a step inside like he had earlier. Soon, Seo Yi-kyung, who had been standing in a standoff, parted his lips.
“I won’t sleep…”
Looking straight ahead, Seo Yi-kyung added,
“…I’ll wait.”
Having said his piece, Seo Yi-kyung turned around. It seemed this method didn’t work either. Seo Yi-kyung knew well that Han Seung-jae was busy. He hadn’t brought the liquor with the intention of disturbing him. After Butler Do apologized to Han Seung-jae once more, he carefully closed the door.
Following Seo Yi-kyung into the bedroom, he placed the whiskey bottle, crystal glasses, and an ice bucket filled with ice from the tray onto the table. As he did, Butler Do asked Seo Yi-kyung, who was sitting in a chair, with a sorrowful gaze.
“Shall I bring some tea for the Young Master to drink?”
No one knew when Han Seung-jae would come. Butler Do had observed Han Seung-jae for a long time. He was not a man whose movements or destinations could be predicted. Han Seung-jae looked down dryly and coldly, spoke heartlessly regardless of how others received it, and maintained an ice-cold attitude.
“I’ll tell you if I need some.”
Even then, Seo Yi-kyung, who had been sitting in the chair with his head hanging lifelessly, looked up. His eyes held a resolute gaze. It was as if he were trying to show he was fine, telling Butler Do not to worry about him.
However, it looked different to Butler Do. To him, the image of the young and powerless Young Master still occasionally overlapped with the current Seo Yi-kyung. Nevertheless, it seemed there was nothing more he could do now.
“Then, please tell me if you need anything.”
“Yes. I will.”
Seo Yi-kyung turned his head to look down at the table. Butler Do walked away with heavy steps and left the bedroom.
Wasn’t Seo Yi-kyung the one carrying Han Seung-jae’s child, of all people? Yet, how could he be so cold? Butler Do felt a bitterness in a corner of his heart.
It was as he was walking down the stairs. The sound of the study door clicking open and shut echoed.
In the evening, no one ever came up to the second floor. Therefore, Butler Do couldn’t have misheard. He quickly hurried down the stairs. He was relieved that, unlike with others, Han Seung-jae wasn’t entirely indifferent to Seo Yi-kyung.
* * *
When the bedroom door opened, Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze shifted. He wondered if Butler Do, unable to let go of his worry, had brought tea again.
However, the one entering was Han Seung-jae. Diagonal shadows fell across the dress shirt enveloping his broad shoulders. Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted slightly.
“Seung-jae.”
Fearing he might walk back out, Seo Yi-kyung reached out and grabbed the whiskey bottle. However, his eyes wavered slightly as he looked at his left arm in a cast. Contrary to his will, it was difficult to open the stopper with one hand.
“I’ll ask Butler Do to…”
Inevitably, Seo Yi-kyung straightened his legs. Han Seung-jae took the whiskey bottle from Seo Yi-kyung’s hand. He lightly tilted the bottle and filled the crystal glass.
The amber liquid sloshed, hitting the glass.
“Don’t just stand there; why don’t you sit down?”
Han Seung-jae’s low tone flowed out.
“…!”
Only then did Seo Yi-kyung realize he had been standing there dazed, staring at Han Seung-jae’s face. He bent his slightly raised knees and perched on the edge of the chair.
Han Seung-jae reached out a long arm to pick up the crystal glass and sat down facing Seo Yi-kyung. He brought the glass to his lips, took a drink, and spoke.
“Sometimes, I feel as though you know me very well.”
It was a strange feeling. Han Seung-jae had received reports regarding Seo Yi-kyung for a long time. At first, it was to prevent any scandals since he was the partner he was to marry, but it continued until it moved beyond habit and reached the level of obsession.
But what did it mean that a similar feeling was being conveyed from Seo Yi-kyung as well?