By Zephyria 
Yeon So-jeong’s head immediately turned toward Seo Yi-kyung. Min Ra-hyeon, who had been chattering until a moment ago, slowly closed his mouth. He doubted what he had just heard with his own ears.
Yeon So-jeong asked.
“What is it? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Due to Yeon So-jeong’s sudden change in attitude, Min Ra-hyeon, who had been excited until now, stared at Seo Yi-kyung, who had set down his teacup and covered his lips with the back of his hand. His face was naturally pale, making it difficult to tell if he was actually sick or just pretending to be. However, it was clear that he hadn’t shown any signs of discomfort throughout the entire car ride.
Yeon So-jeong looked around. Seeing that Butler Choi was gone to prepare the meal, she soon spoke to Min Ra-hyeon.
“Go and bring Butler Choi.”
“Pardon?”
“Now.”
Yeon So-jeong’s face, which was short and even firm, had lost its smile in an instant. It was enough to make one wonder if this was the same woman who had been looking at Min Ra-hyeon with such warm eyes just a moment ago. Regardless of her position here, she was strictly Han Seung-jae’s mother. Whether she was loved by President Han or not was entirely irrelevant.
Her standing within ‘Omega’s World’ remained unchanged. After all, she had given birth to Han Seung-jae, an extreme dominant Alpha. And very occasionally, Seo Yi-kyung felt that she and Han Seung-jae were similar.
Though he could never utter such words aloud. Even if the emotionless Han Seung-jae was stingy with expression and didn’t show it outwardly, Seo Yi-kyung, who was closest to him, vaguely felt that there were parts where Yeon So-jeong and Han Seung-jae resembled one another.
“Yi-kyung, are you okay?”
Min Ra-hyeon asked as he awkwardly stood up. Seo Yi-kyung remained with his head half-bowed, covering his lips.
Seo Yi-kyung’s heart pounded. He didn’t know if this was how morning sickness worked. Strangely, he had never felt a sense of rejection while eating something. It was only that he couldn’t eat much because his stomach was small, even if he wanted more. Still, judging by the reactions of the two, it seemed this method was working.
“…….”
When no answer came, Min Ra-hyeon took a step forward with a lukewarm expression. He looked at Seo Yi-kyung with a confused face as he walked around the sofa, but that didn’t reveal anything.
Yeon So-jeong reached out and stroked Seo Yi-kyung’s back, saying,
“You’ve grown thinner since the last time I saw you.”
Seo Yi-kyung lowered the back of his hand that had been covering his mouth. Seeing Yeon So-jeong’s worried face, he wondered if he had done something unnecessary. He hadn’t intended to cause her worry.
“It seems Seung-jae doesn’t pay any attention to you because he only focuses on outside work.”
Seo Yi-kyung hesitated. As Han Seung-jae was suddenly brought up, he began to feel that something was going wrong.
“Mother, about that……”
Just as he opened his mouth to hurry and explain, Min Ra-hyeon returned with Butler Choi.
“I’ve brought him.”
“What is the matter?”
Yeon So-jeong turned her head toward Butler Choi. Her hand remained on Seo Yi-kyung’s back. Min Ra-hyeon, who had looked grumpy the entire time he brought Butler Choi here, seemed to have provided no proper explanation.
Butler Choi looked at her with a bewildered expression. Yeon So-jeong pointed with her other hand.
“First, clear away this teacup. And bring the things I prepared earlier.”
Butler Choi picked up the teacup in front of Seo Yi-kyung and turned around. Min Ra-hyeon sat on the sofa, looking at Seo Yi-kyung, whose complexion was not good.
“Yi-kyung, are you feeling very unwell?”
Min Ra-hyeon’s expression, which had been harmonious with Yeon So-jeong until a moment ago, sank. He glanced at Yeon So-jeong’s expression. A shadow had fallen over her face as she looked at Seo Yi-kyung. It felt as if cold water had suddenly been thrown over the atmosphere that had been ripening with conversation. Min Ra-hyeon suppressed a sigh that was about to leak out.
“I have brought them.”
Butler Choi, who had gone following Yeon So-jeong’s instructions, handed over a shopping bag. Looking inside, Yeon So-jeong took out a velvet box. Other small boxes of various types were also placed there. When Yeon So-jeong opened the lid, a spark of curiosity flashed in Min Ra-hyeon’s eyes.
Seo Yi-kyung looked down at the platinum bracelet being wrapped around his wrist. Yeon So-jeong personally fastened the bracelet on his wrist.
“If you wear this, your stomach will feel better soon, so do not worry.”
Seo Yi-kyung looked down at the bracelet with doubtful eyes. As if she had used bracelets that prevent morning sickness before, Yeon So-jeong naturally stimulated the area where it touched the wrist.
“Come to think of it, I didn’t ask if there are any foods that are hard for you to eat. Are there any foods you avoid?”
Lunch preparations were likely in full swing. Seo Yi-kyung nodded as if led by Yeon So-jeong’s words.
“Yes. I tried to drink tea a moment ago, but my stomach suddenly… became uncomfortable……”
To be precise, it was closer to his chest feeling tight. Seo Yi-kyung was not good at lying. Consequently, he naturally avoided Yeon So-jeong’s gaze. Nevertheless, Yeon So-jeong seemed to understand as she scrutinized Seo Yi-kyung’s face.
“Meal preparations are complete.”
Yeon So-jeong took Seo Yi-kyung’s hand and moved. Min Ra-hyeon stepped beside them, but her gaze remained fixed on Seo Yi-kyung. This was because Seo Yi-kyung’s stomach still showed no sign of pregnancy. Therefore, it was a time to be even more careful and put full effort into health management.
“Tell me immediately if it’s hard to eat.”
Even after taking their seats in the dining room, Yeon So-jeong spoke to Seo Yi-kyung in a gentle tone. Seo Yi-kyung looked at her once and then looked at Min Ra-hyeon sitting across from him. Their gazes intertwined in the air. However, it was Min Ra-hyeon who looked away first. He picked up the chopsticks in front of him.
Similarly, Seo Yi-kyung tried to put the food in front of him into his mouth, but for some reason, his mouth felt dry and he felt nauseous.
Seo Yi-kyung had not experienced morning sickness at all. Thus, looking at him from the outside, one wouldn’t even imagine he was carrying a child. He had no idea why the food here suddenly smelled repulsive.
When Seo Yi-kyung stopped moving his chopsticks, Yeon So-jeong’s gaze shifted toward him. She called Butler Choi and told him to prepare fruit.
Eventually, Seo Yi-kyung put down the chopsticks and adjusted his grip on a fork. He ate pieces of apple, strawberry, and tangerine that had been cut into bite-sized pieces. Butler Choi also set down warm citron tea. He certainly felt it was easier to eat than before.
Seo Yi-kyung picked up the cup containing the steaming warm citron tea. As he carefully sipped and swallowed the tea, the area around his chilly chest soon felt comfortable. Only then did Seo Yi-kyung smile and look at Yeon So-jeong.
“My stomach was a bit uncomfortable until a moment ago. I think I’m okay now.”
Seo Yi-kyung fiddled with the bracelet on his wrist.
“This accessory seems to have a good effect.”
He had simply come up with a clever trick because Min Ra-hyeon had been blocking him from even greeting properly.
‘I only intended to pretend.’
Since his stomach was actually becoming uncomfortable as if he were experiencing morning sickness, he couldn’t understand why. Was it because Min Ra-hyeon was in front of him? Because the situation of eating face-to-face with him was uncomfortable and suffocating?
However, he could hear the reason from Yeon So-jeong.
“If there is Alpha pheromone, morning sickness is usually less severe.”
“……?”
Seo Yi-kyung, who had been looking at Min Ra-hyeon, turned his head toward her. He took his hand off the bracelet he had been touching. Yeon So-jeong added elegantly,
“Is Seung-jae so busy that he doesn’t pay any attention to you at all?”
“Ah.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted slightly. Although Han Seung-jae was busy, the bedroom was overflowing with his white wood scent. Not only that, but Han Seung-jae did not conceal his pheromones at all in front of Seo Yi-kyung. Because of that, Seo Yi-kyung often felt as if his mind was becoming thick, even sticky.
Just this morning, he had reached the point where his entire body smelled of white wood. Because of that, one could say Seo Yi-kyung was gradually adapting to that weight.
However, he had been completely unaware of the fact that one does not experience morning sickness due to an Alpha’s pheromones.
Seo Yi-kyung suddenly felt the bracelet was heavy and lowered his wrist beneath the table. Yeon So-jeong seemed to have used this bracelet before. That also meant that Han Yechan had been indifferent to her.
And Yeon So-jeong looked at Seo Yi-kyung with a gaze of concern, wondering if that was the case. Seo Yi-kyung hurriedly forced a smile.
“No. Seung-jae treats me well.”
He didn’t know if Han Seung-jae had released his pheromones out of concern for morning sickness. After all, wasn’t it impossible for him to be considerate of others or adjust something for someone else?
The Han Seung-jae that Seo Yi-kyung knew was certainly not that kind of person.