By Zephyria 
Min Ra-hyeon’s lips parted. He looked once more at the bracelet on Seo Yi-kyung’s wrist, then spoke rapidly to the helper.
“Sorry for the misunderstanding.”
He tossed the bracelet he was holding onto the bed and showed both palms to Seo Yi-kyung. As if to prove he had nothing left.
“I apologized. Now we’re done, right?”
Min Ra-hyeon glared fiercely at the helper and took a step forward. He then slowly brushed past Seo Yi-kyung and left the cluttered room. Butler Do, who had watched the scene from the closest vantage point, had a look of wonder in his eyes.
After seeing the doctor out to the entrance, Butler Do had come to where the helpers stayed, noticing they weren’t around to tidy up the house, only to witness Min Ra-hyeon throwing a tantrum.
Butler Do had tried to dissuade Min Ra-hyeon, but he had insisted that he had to find a lost item and stubbornly claimed that one of them must have it. Because of this, Butler Do had no choice but to bring Seo Yi-kyung, who was still unwell, to the room.
Since Min Ra-hyeon was someone Han Seung-jae had brought into the house, everyone treated him with caution. Despite that, Seo Yi-kyung’s words had been blunt and unwavering.
At the series of events he had just witnessed, Butler Do looked at the back of the young master standing before him with surprised eyes. He hadn’t been intimidated in the slightest and had even forced an apology. It was something he couldn’t believe even though he had seen it with his own eyes.
“The room has become a mess.”
Seo Yi-kyung scratched his forehead. Unlike when he was facing Min Ra-hyeon, his expression had settled into something more casual. He picked up the bag that had fallen on the floor. The contents inside had all spilled onto the marble floor.
Seo Yi-kyung bent one knee and put the scattered items back into the bag. The bracelet on his wrist slid down.
Coming back to his senses, Butler Do stepped closer. This was a person whose health was still fragile.
“I will do it. I can tidy this up in no time.”
Butler Do lowered himself to help. Even so, Seo Yi-kyung did not stop his hands. The culprit who had caused this mess had slipped away without cleaning up.
“Da-hye, don’t cry.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze slowly shifted to the side. The woman Min Ra-hyeon had cornered earlier was trying to swallow her sobs, sniffing as she wiped her tears with both hands. However, once the sorrowful tears had surged, they didn’t seem to stop easily.
Step, step. Seo Yi-kyung moved. He lightly scanned the bed and picked up the broken bracelet.
“Butler Do, we’ll clean up.”
The helper who had been comforting Da-hye approached Butler Do. At that, Da-hye, who had been crying continuously, began to tidy the disheveled bedding. In doing so, her eyes met with Seo Yi-kyung’s, who was clutching the bracelet. Seo Yi-kyung reached out his hand.
“Take it. It’s yours, Da-hye.”
A long string hung vertically from Seo Yi-kyung’s fingertips. With teary, glistening eyes, Da-hye sniffled.
“That… isn’t mine. I really don’t know why… it was under my pillow.”
Seo Yi-kyung looked at Da-hye, who was streaming tears, and spoke.
“Butler Do.”
“Yes.”
Seo Yi-kyung held out the bracelet to Butler Do, who had stepped closer. After checking the broken joint, Butler Do answered quickly.
“At this level, the repair can be finished quickly.”
“He says so. That’s good, Da-hye.”
Da-hye, who was wiping her tears, looked at Butler Do as if she didn’t quite understand Seo Yi-kyung’s words. Seo Yi-kyung added with a smile.
“Give it to Da-hye once the repair is finished. This bracelet is yours now.”
Seo Yi-kyung felt partially responsible for this incident. He hadn’t expected Min Ra-hyeon to act this way, but he should have checked the moment he thought the other had taken it. While he was unable to come down to the first floor for a while due to his illness, this commotion had occurred.
“I understand.”
Butler Do didn’t say anything more. Seo Yi-kyung picked up the scattered pillows, put them back in their original places, and smoothed out the wrinkles with his palm. Da-hye, who had been unable to move until then, began to clumsily clean up the messy surroundings.
Once the room was somewhat organized, Seo Yi-kyung left through the door. Butler Do walked behind him. In the meantime, the other rooms seemed to have regained their original appearance.
* * *
Seo Yi-kyung took a seat on the sofa in the center of the living room, where the sunlight streamed in. Organizing the painting studio could be postponed until later. While Butler Do was away for a moment, Seo Yi-kyung drank the tea brought by a helper alone.
Min Ra-hyeon, who had come out of his room, spotted Seo Yi-kyung and turned back the way he came.
“Lunch is ready.”
Seo Yi-kyung followed the helper into the dining room and took a seat at the table. A moment later, the helper who had gone to call Min Ra-hyeon returned alone.
“He said he wouldn’t be eating…”
“I understand.”
Sitting alone at the table, Seo Yi-kyung picked up his chopsticks, took a small amount of rice, and put it in his mouth. After chewing a few times, his chopsticks stopped in mid-air.
My stomach is still uncomfortable. After hesitating for a while, Seo Yi-kyung tasted the soup. But it was the same this time. Seo Yi-kyung looked at the bracelet on his wrist.
“….”
He had been able to eat to some extent in the morning. Was that not because of the bracelet, but rather the influence of Han Seung-jae’s pheromones?
“Have you finished already?”
Butler Do greeted Seo Yi-kyung as he stepped out of the dining room. It seemed he had just returned.
“My stomach is uncomfortable, so it’s not going down well.”
Feeling there was no need to lie to him, Seo Yi-kyung spoke as he walked. He felt that if he ate more, he would get indigestion, making it difficult to eat.
Butler Do walked beside him and spoke.
“I just received the repaired bracelet.”
“Give it to Da-hye.”
“Are you sure that’s alright?”
Seo Yi-kyung nodded. He already had an identical one on his arm. There was no need to wear two of them. As he approached the sofa and sat down, Butler Do brought out tea and fruit shortly after. These were easier to swallow than a meal.
Fiddling with his phone, Seo Yi-kyung sent a message to Jin Seon-yu.
Until now, they hadn’t been able to meet because Seo Yi-kyung’s health was poor or other matters had arisen. Jin Seon-yu immediately replied that he would drop by tomorrow for a short visit.
[Tomorrow is Christmas. I’ll stop by for a bit.]
Seo Yi-kyung replied that he understood.
Just then, small footsteps approached.
“Um…”
Seo Yi-kyung, who had been looking at his phone screen, turned his head. The familiar face, now free of tears, looked much calmer than she had in the morning.
Da-hye held out the bracelet she had been clutching in her hand. The bracelet, its joint now connected, boasted an elegant appearance.
“Butler Do gave this to me, so…”
Seo Yi-kyung spoke as if anticipating the rest of Da-hye’s words.
“You can take it.”
Da-hye looked down at her hand, hesitating on what to do.
“I’ve worn one of those too, so I know.”
Da-hye only lifted her eyes to look straight ahead. A smile played on Seo Yi-kyung’s lips.
“If you wear that, good things will happen.”
Da-hye blinked. He gently tightened his fingers to clutch the bracelet.
“Thank you!”
Da-hye returned with a brightened face. Seo Yi-kyung watched her back before looking down at his phone, which vibrated.
[Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll buy everything on my way.]
It was a message from Jin Seon-yu. Seo Yi-kyung pondered for a moment before tapping the screen. He couldn’t ask Han Seung-jae to stay by his side all day, and being unable to eat was a torment in its own right.
Seo Yi-kyung sent the message.
[No. I can’t eat right now. You can just come.]
* * *
Myeongjun Financial Group, Director’s Office.
Secretary Park heard something meaningful while receiving a report from the doctor in charge of Seo Yi-kyung’s treatment. It was a strange comment suggesting that something seemed to be happening inside the house. After grasping the circumstances, Secretary Park relayed the series of events to Han Seung-jae.
“…I am told that such things occurred.”
Han Seung-jae listened quietly to Secretary Park’s words while signing documents. Then, he lightly closed the approval documents and handed them to Secretary Park.
As Secretary Park took the documents with both hands, Han Seung-jae leaned back in his chair.
“Has he finally felt like playing the role of the master of the house?”
Secretary Park skillfully understood what Han Seung-jae meant.
“It seems so.”
Until now, Seo Yi-kyung had not interfered regardless of what happened in the house. Since Butler Do handled everything, things seemed to flow without issue. Regardless, managing the household was a task Seo Yi-kyung should have performed.
It seemed he had finally found the will to do so.