By Zephyria 
Haseon Hospital.
“No, is he even coming?”
Seo Dong-hu barely managed to lower his rising voice. He hid at the end of the hospital corridor, staring straight ahead with wide eyes. His chauffeur was with him.
“The date for the check-up should be correct.”
The chauffeur glanced at him again. While doing so, he subtly increased the distance between himself and Seo Dong-hu, fearing a fist might fly his way.
“Then why the hell isn’t he visible!”
According to the information he had struggled to obtain, today was the day of Seo Yi-kyung’s regular check-up. However, even though he had positioned himself here since early morning, Yi-kyung had not appeared. Nor had Han Seung-jae.
Just as Seo Dong-hu was about to raise his fist toward the chauffeur, questioning if he had gotten the date wrong—Buzz. Seo Dong-hu reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.
“I’m busy as hell. Who is it?”
The caller was his father, Seo Young-hwan. As Seo Dong-hu put the phone to his ear, he warned the chauffeur to keep a sharp eye out.
“……What? Dragged out?”
Seo Dong-hu’s voice echoed through the hospital corridor. “Fuck.” He spat out a curse and began to walk away. Watching his retreating figure, the chauffeur started to move his legs but then froze in place.
He watched for a long time, wondering if Seo Yi-kyung might still show up, just as Seo Dong-hu had said.
Despite that, Seo Yi-kyung never appeared.
* * *
Knock, knock.
Butler Do’s fingertips were busy as he knocked repeatedly on the bedroom door. Seo Yi-kyung opened the door. He had been in his room ever since watching Han Seung-jae leave for work.
“Young Master, would you mind coming down to the first floor? Director Han has sent something.”
Butler Do, who had come to call Seo Yi-kyung, looked somewhat excited. It wasn’t Han Seung-jae himself who had come, nor was it Secretary Park. The person who had visited the house a moment ago was an employee of the Myeongjun Financial Group. However, based on the affiliation alone, it was more than enough to know who had sent it.
“Seung-jae did?”
What on earth had arrived at the house this time?
The ultrasound machine alone had been bewildering. Even Seo Yi-kyung, who received it as a gift, hadn’t dared to go near that room. Butler Do’s decision to come call Seo Yi-kyung instead of placing the machine in the painting studio had been truly correct.
Even as he looked at Butler Do’s seemingly joyful face, a sense of anxiety bloomed in a corner of Seo Yi-kyung’s heart.
“Please come and see for yourself.”
Seo Yi-kyung followed Butler Do down to the first floor via the elevator. The helpers passing by bowed their heads to him. Seo Yi-kyung responded with a light nod and headed toward the dining room.
Butler Do pointed to the item the visitor had left behind. Wrapped in high-quality fabric, the object looked like a chest.
“Shall we open it?”
“Yes.”
At Seo Yi-kyung’s word, Butler Do unwrapped the cloth as if he had been waiting for the moment. Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze, following the butler’s fingertips, stopped at a dangling loop. Attached to the woven cord was an ornament that read ‘Ivory Pavilion.’
When the large chest was opened, neatly arranged dishes came into view. From large, well-grilled abalones with precise knife cuts to the main course, side dishes, rice, soup, and even fruit for dessert.
“There is one more at the bottom.”
Saying this, Butler Do set the cover he was holding aside and lifted the center of the chest. Inside, it was filled with meat that had a reddish hue. It was raw, uncooked meat.
Seo Yi-kyung stared at the words ‘Ivory Pavilion’ on the cloth. Beside him, Butler Do rambled on about the superior quality of the meat.
“Would you like to have this for lunch?”
Seo Yi-kyung hesitated for a moment before nodding. He had barely eaten any breakfast while sitting across from Han Seung-jae this morning. It was largely because Han Seung-jae had been watching the fingertips of Seo Yi-kyung’s hand as he moved his chopsticks. Consequently, Seo Yi-kyung had moved his chopsticks a few times and then stopped.
“If you have some tea, I will have it prepared shortly.”
Butler Do handed the high-quality meat to the chef and prepared the tea. Seo Yi-kyung thought about waiting in the living room but decided to take a seat at the dining table.
He felt there was no need to make Butler Do go back and forth with the teapot for no reason. Seo Yi-kyung drank the subtly brewed tea.
Before long, a delicious aroma wafted through the air. While drinking his tea, Seo Yi-kyung glanced at Butler Do’s back as he walked busily. Then, he wondered if his gaze was unintentionally making it feel like he was rushing the food. Seeing how the scent of the food had already spread this much. Seo Yi-kyung immediately looked away and lifted the teapot.
Clink. Seo Yi-kyung filled his teacup. And it was just as the cup had run dry again.
“The condition of the meat is truly excellent.”
Seo Yi-kyung looked down at the meat arranged neatly on the plate. Juices were flowing from the golden-brown meat. Butler Do took the side dishes from the chest and distributed them onto plates. Then, the sauce was added.
“Please try it before it gets cold.”
Even without Butler Do’s suggestion, Seo Yi-kyung picked up his chopsticks. Having eaten at the Ivory Pavilion before, he knew better than anyone how outstanding the food there was.
Seo Yi-kyung picked up a piece of meat, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth. The sweet and tender meat melted in his mouth without needing much chewing. The flavor was as rich as when he had eaten at the Ivory Pavilion. Perhaps it was because Han Seung-jae wasn’t in front of him. Since there was no one to be conscious of, Seo Yi-kyung didn’t stop moving his chopsticks.
“Is it to your liking?”
A smile played on Butler Do’s lips. It was because Seo Yi-kyung’s body seemed to have grown noticeably thinner than before.
While having breakfast with Han Seung-jae, Seo Yi-kyung hadn’t eaten even half of his meal. Butler Do, who had confirmed this while clearing the table, couldn’t help but be worried. He had assumed it was because the child was making him feel unwell, but seeing him eat well now, it seemed that might not have been the only reason.
“There was more meat than expected. Would you like to eat like this for dinner as well?”
It was a taste he wouldn’t tire of no matter how many times he ate it. Seo Yi-kyung picked up another piece of meat and put it in his mouth. It was a rare, comfortable, and leisurely lunch.
Above all, everything he put in his mouth tasted delicious. No matter what he ate. He only wished his body wasn’t one that felt full after eating just a little. He finished the meal feeling quite satiated.
* * *
After leaving the dining room, Seo Yi-kyung entered the dressing room. As he took a coat and draped it over his arm, Butler Do asked.
“Are you going out? The wind is chilly.”
“I’ve dressed warmly. I think I’ll take a walk in the garden.”
Now that he was full, he felt as though his body had become heavy. And sleepiness kept washing over him. Thus, Seo Yi-kyung chose to take his outerwear and go for a stroll in the garden. Since Jin Seon-yu wasn’t coming today, Seo Yi-kyung put on his coat and wandered leisurely through the garden.
Seo Yi-kyung tapped an outdoor table with his fingertips. His fingers were cold, but he thought it wouldn’t be bad to sit for a while before leaving.
Seo Yi-kyung sat down and looked around. When he first arrived here, everything about the unfamiliar environment had only brought fear. But as time passed, there were moments when he felt a sense of familiarity and comfort.
The wide garden was like that, and so was Butler Do, who would open the door with a worried face.
“If you sit too long, you’ll catch a cold.”
“I was just about to get up.”
Seo Yi-kyung stood up. Butler Do walked beside him and spoke cautiously.
“Director Han may seem cold on the outside, but it seems he thinks of the Young Master more than he lets on.”
“…….”
“Isn’t today’s lunch a case in point? Come to think of it, the painting studio is the same.”
Butler Do turned his head, looking around as if seeing the interior of the town house. It was an incomparable size compared to the main house. Moreover, to turn an entire side of the ‘L-shaped’ structure into a painting studio.
“And I truly didn’t expect him to bring in an ultrasound machine.”
At Butler Do’s words, Seo Yi-kyung’s cheeks stiffened slightly. He raised his hand to scratch his forehead, trying to hide his expression. It was because he recalled Han Seung-jae’s touch—undressing him, touching his chest, and stroking his side, all under the guise of checking the baby.
With a calm face, Seo Yi-kyung took off his coat and handed it to Butler Do. Then, he walked straight into the painting studio.
The painting studio, where the sunlight stretched long, was filled with baby items he had received from Jin Seon-yu. And the pocket watch necklace he received from Han Seung-jae sparkled inside a display case. There were also hats and a painting of a languid afternoon hanging on the wall.
Seo Yi-kyung moved a long sword on the work table to a shelf and approached a wooden easel. A landscape painting he had drawn was resting upon it. On the canvas Jin Seon-yu had painted, even the circular table in the garden had been included in the meantime. However, Seo Yi-kyung was only just now sketching the outlines of the trees.
Seo Yi-kyung brushed his fingertips over the canvas.
“Ah, it’s not dry yet.”
Seo Yi-kyung wiped the paint-stained fingertips with a cloth. Then, he gripped the brush and placed it on the tree where a fingerprint had formed. Seo Yi-kyung bit the inside of his lip and moved the brush carefully.
It probably wasn’t an illusion that this painting studio now felt quite cozy.