By Zephyria 
Min Ra-hyeon was born to parents who chose love over seeing marriage as a mere means to an end. As a recessive Omega, Min Ra-hyeon had met Han Seung-jae as a child through his parents’ connections. After being apart for a long time due to studying abroad, they eventually reunited.
[Can I crash at your place for a while?]
Min Ra-hyeon gestured with his suitcase and tilted his head. He was looking at Seo Yi-kyung, who stood behind Han Seung-jae. That alone gave Seo Yi-kyung an inexplicable sense of anxiety.
Was it from that moment? The moment cracks began to form in the married life that ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ had worked so tirelessly to maintain. Eventually, the situation spiraled out of control. Because Min Ra-hyeon was always between the two of them.
In the end, ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ repeatedly made the wrong choices. The hand that had known nothing but painting since childhood, a hand that handled artworks, held a cold piece of metal that didn’t suit him at all.
…His vision blurred. The gun in his hand was incomparably cold, coiling around him like a slender, smooth snake. As if ready to bite his head at any moment, the muzzle pressed constantly against his temple, right beside his thin eyebrow. The fingertips of Seo Yi-kyung resting on the trigger beneath it trembled. Soon, his shoulders heaved violently, and tears that had clouded his vision fell in droplets.
Perhaps it was because his vision cleared for a fleeting instant. In the painting studio where the blue dawn light wavered, the Adam’s apple of the solitary Seo Yi-kyung moved slowly. His dry mouth felt as if there wasn’t even enough saliva to swallow. As if deciding not to hesitate any longer, he applied pressure with the tip of his index finger resting on the curved metal trigger.
Bang—
With a short gunshot, red blood splattered across the canvas resting on the easel—a landscape painting of fluttering cherry blossom petals…
* * *
…Lost in thought, Seo Yi-kyung turned his head. Han Seung-jae entered through the door. A glass was held in the hand of the man who had his phone pressed to his ear.
As the hand approached, Seo Yi-kyung instinctively recoiled. However, with his back against the headboard of the bed, there was nowhere left to flee.
The glass filled with sloshing water was placed on a tray. Han Seung-jae set the water down and turned around. Seo Yi-kyung stared blankly at the back of the man as he continued his phone call.
When he first opened his eyes, he thought it was all a dream. Because the ending was so shocking, he believed it had manifested as a dream. However, even after waking up, the situation hardly changed. If anything, he was now under Han Seung-jae’s suspicion.
Seo Yi-kyung looked down at the ring on his finger. So, now he had to acknowledge and accept this reality.
* * *
Late at night, Seo Yi-kyung slipped out of bed. Faint light seeped in through the window, making it easy to move.
Stepping out onto the terrace, Seo Yi-kyung gripped the railing with both arms and gazed at the lit garden along the stone steps. If he set his mind to it, it didn’t seem impossible to jump. Although it was the second floor, strictly speaking, it was more like a 1.5-story height. He simply couldn’t decide where he should go.
Just then, the glass door opened and a low voice joined him.
“You look like you’re about to run away.”
The fingertips of Seo Yi-kyung, which had been gripping the railing, curled. His upper body, which had been bent over as he looked down, froze instantly. He turned around slowly. Han Seung-jae, who had pushed aside the curtain and placed one hand on the glass door, tilted his head diagonally. An overwhelming pressure emanating from his entire body could be felt.
What should I do? Seo Yi-kyung’s parched lips parted. He needed to say something, to make an excuse for now…
“I wonder what excuse you’ll make this time.”
However, Han Seung-jae beat him to it with a tilt of his head. He looked as if he were genuinely expecting something, as if telling him to go ahead and speak. A subtle silence settled between the two. Eventually, Seo Yi-kyung spoke haltingly.
“I… I slept too much, so my head feels heavy.”
It wasn’t a lie. Because he had spent several days lying in bed to avoid Han Seung-jae, his head actually hurt.
If this was a dream, he hoped he would wake up quickly. But perhaps there was no need for that anymore. If it was a dream he would never wake from, there was no point in wishing for it.
As Seo Yi-kyung turned around, the wind blew behind his back. The breeze brushed through his thin hair. Seo Yi-kyung continued slowly.
“Please get some fresh air before coming back in. I’m going to sleep first.”
Seo Yi-kyung stepped away from the railing and moved. He passed Han Seung-jae, who was standing at the glass door, and entered the room.
Stepping on the rug on the floor, Seo Yi-kyung crossed the wide room and climbed into bed, burrowing himself into the duvet that felt as soft as down. Compared to the narrow room he used to live in, this environment was excessively soft and warm. Nevertheless, the duvet filling his two hands felt heavy.
Han Seung-jae turned around slowly. As soon as that sight entered his vision, Seo Yi-kyung pulled the duvet up over his head. His small lips parted, and a deep breath escaped.
* * *
Click. When the sound of the door was heard, Seo Yi-kyung opened his eyes. He hesitantly pulled down the duvet covering his head. Even after that, he looked around to confirm that Han Seung-jae was gone before pushing himself up.
The corners of his eyes were red and bloodshot. Though he had spoken boldly, he hadn’t slept a wink all night.
Swoosh—
Entering the bathroom, Seo Yi-kyung approached the sink, leaned over, and splashed his face with handfuls of the steadily flowing cold water.
He lifted his head. Water droplets clung to his pale face and dripped down. Seo Yi-kyung stared blankly at his reflection in the mirror.
Seo Yi-kyung rubbed the mirror as if confirming his changed face. His face was small enough to be covered by one hand. Long eyelashes that looked meticulously crafted and pale eyes. His red lips were smooth and exquisite, as if they had been painted on. Then, his gaze shifted to his lower lip, where a scab had formed.
If he had encountered this face outside, his eyes would have been drawn to it constantly. Seo Yi-kyung tried to smile. Even as he watched the face in the mirror smile back, he couldn’t shake a feeling of awkwardness. They shared the same name, but their appearances were truly different. Suddenly discovering something, Seo Yi-kyung tapped the mirror in lament. His forehead in the mirror frowned slightly.
“I’ve gotten shorter.”
It was a disaster. No wonder he felt a crushing sense of pressure every time he met Han Seung-jae. In the original work, he was described as having a physique over 190cm and enjoying various sports. But seeing him in person, he looked even larger.
Seo Yi-kyung wiped his cheeks with a dry towel and moved. With a determined face, he pulled the towel taut and hung it around his neck. After taking a short deep breath, he opened the door. The first thing that came into view was a long hallway.
He encountered no one while leaving the bedroom located on the second floor. However, as he appeared in the center, a helper who was changing the water in a vase approached him in one bound.
“Are you awake?”
“Ah.”
Despite having braced himself, Seo Yi-kyung’s face flushed with embarrassment at the sudden appearance of a character. Nevertheless, she didn’t notice and turned her head toward someone passing by.
“Tell Butler Do. Quickly.”
She hurriedly looked at Seo Yi-kyung.
“Since you didn’t come out of your room… Butler Do was very worried.”
In the original work, such people weren’t described in detail one by one and were simply referred to as helpers. It felt strange to see one of those extras directly worrying about him in front of his eyes. After a short pause, Seo Yi-kyung replied.
“…I’m okay now.”
Just then, the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs was heard.
“Young Master, are you awake?”
Butler Do, who had climbed the stairs at a fast pace, arrived in front of Seo Yi-kyung. His face was full of anxiety.
Butler Do Yun-seok, in his mid-fifties, managed the household’s affairs. He was someone Seo Yi-kyung had brought along when he got married. It was the judgment of his father, who believed that Seo Yi-kyung—who only knew how to hold a brush and handle antiques—would not be able to manage all the affairs of a large household.
Butler Do examined Seo Yi-kyung quietly. Perhaps because he had been ill for several days, his already thin body had become even more gaunt.
“Do you know how worried I was because you’ve done nothing but sleep since returning from your trip?”
“I-I-I mean…”
Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes widened. The words circled on his tongue. A trip… the honeymoon mentioned briefly at the beginning of the story flashed through his mind.
“Please come quickly. Breakfast is ready. Will you be able to eat porridge? I’ve already instructed them to prepare a few things. After you eat, please come to the hospital with me…”
Seo Yi-kyung grabbed Butler Do’s arm. He stopped mid-sentence and looked down at Seo Yi-kyung. Seo Yi-kyung forced a smile.
“Butler… Do?”
The scratched lower lip stung faintly. However, Seo Yi-kyung believed that if he had the face he saw in the mirror, it would have the effect of making people want to listen to whatever he said.
“I’m very hungry.”
His appetite was returning. Therefore, it seemed there was no need to go to the hospital. And his judgment was exactly correct.
* * *
While following Butler Do to the first floor, Seo Yi-kyung looked around. High-end leather sofas and tables, large enough to sleep on, were arranged in different colors to match the space. Everywhere his eyes landed, a completely different atmosphere was created. Some areas brought to mind a luxurious hotel, while the opposite side evoked a modern landscape.
The townhouse located in Seongbuk-dong had a structure shaped like a ‘-‘ with two floors above ground and one basement level. It was a house meticulously designed by a world-renowned architect.
The two had been promised in marriage since they were young. Without neglecting a single detail, the spaces used by Seo Yi-kyung and the rooms used by Han Seung-jae were separated. Similarly, the rooms for the resident Butler Do and the helpers were also divided.
Seo Yi-kyung scanned the paintings hanging on the walls. Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Han Seung-jae appeared.
“…!”
Seo Yi-kyung, who had been looking around, flinched. Discovering him belatedly, Seo Yi-kyung’s legs felt nailed to the spot. The smile he had been wearing until a moment ago vanished without a trace.
Butler Do bowed toward Han Seung-jae, who had come up to the ground floor after finishing his workout.
“Have you come out? Director Han, breakfast is ready regardless.”
“I see.”
Han Seung-jae passed by as if it were nothing. Seo Yi-kyung unconsciously bit his lower lip. He tasted iron from the lip that had been scratched. Perhaps because it had been wounded once, it bled easily with the slightest touch.
“Please give this to me.”
Butler Do, straightening up, finally noticed the towel around Seo Yi-kyung’s neck and took it. Once he regained his composure, the pajamas Seo Yi-kyung was wearing also became noticeable. These were things he hadn’t noticed until now because he was flustered.
Butler Do hesitated on what to do. However, Han Seung-jae had already seen and passed by. Since he was someone who had been sick until yesterday, it likely wouldn’t be a big problem if he appeared somewhat disheveled.
Just then, a presence was felt behind Seo Yi-kyung.
“Um, where should I hang this?”
Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze naturally rested where she was pointing. Two men were standing there holding a frame. It was a painting of lush trees by a dark-colored river.
“Huh?”
At the short exclamation, Han Seung-jae stopped walking. He turned around.