Chapter 9
Just as Ahan was about to return to his own room, something seemed to occur to him. He turned on his heel.
His steps stopped outside Yeoreul’s room.
The door had been left slightly ajar.
Leaning casually against the doorway, Ahan knocked.
Startled by the sound, Yeoreul sprang up from her chair.
“May I come in?”
She gave a small nod, and Ahan walked inside with his usual steady, unhurried stride.
Standing obediently across from him, Yeoreul found herself taking an unconscious step backward.
Ahan studied her face in silence, blinking once.
Perhaps it was because his features were so impossibly perfect, but Yeoreul found it difficult to meet his gaze.
Feeling heat creep toward her cheeks, she looked away first.
When she cautiously glanced back, she realized he was staring—not at her face—but at her legs.
Only then did she remember.
The stocking she’d only half removed.
The color drained from her face.
One pale, slender leg remained exposed, its smooth skin visible where the stocking had been rolled halfway down.
Panicked, Yeoreul quickly hid the unfinished stocking behind her other leg.
“W-What is it…?”
Then, without warning, Ahan lowered himself.
He reached out and gently rolled down the knee-high sock covering her other leg with a single stroke of his fingers.
His long fingers glided over her calf.
The unexpected touch made Yeoreul stiffen.
A faint shiver raced through her body.
Ahan examined her leg, finding no trace of injury before lifting his eyes to hers.
“Aren’t you hot?”
Their gazes met.
It seemed he had only been checking the fabric of the socks.
Yeoreul’s expression turned awkward, but Ahan remained completely composed.
“You’ve been wearing them even in this weather.”
He withdrew his index finger from the fabric and stood.
“I… don’t really mind the heat.”
Embarrassed, Yeoreul crossed her legs, curling her toes against the floor.
The long socks were nearly peeled off now, barely covering her calves and ankles.
“Who did you live with?”
Ahan asked the question so abruptly that she blinked in confusion before finally understanding what he meant.
He waited patiently.
“My grandmother.”
The way he looked at her made it seem as though he already knew.
So she answered honestly.
“For your whole life?”
“…Since my first year of middle school.”
“Ah…”
Hearing it directly from her lips, Ahan let out a quiet breath.
Their eyes remained tangled together in silence, and Yeoreul found herself holding hers.
“I’m sorry. Grandma told me… people might think strangely of me if I said it.”
“I see.”
Yeoreul looked at him.
“See you tomorrow.”
That was all he said.
Turning around, Ahan left the room.
Apparently, that had truly been the only reason he’d come.
The moment he disappeared, the tension melted away.
Yeoreul finally released the breath she’d been unconsciously holding.
She collapsed backward onto the bed.
Every ounce of strength seemed to drain from her body.
Knock.
Another knock came from outside.
Yeoreul bolted upright.
“Y-Yes!”
A staff member entered and approached her politely.
“Would you like me to prepare your bath and bring fresh clothes?”
“Oh—yes, please. Thank you.”
After bathing, Yeoreul changed into the flowing white pajamas the maid had prepared.
They were loose and comfortable, allowing her to move freely.
After brushing her hair, she sat at her desk.
Her eyes drifted toward the fresh blue iris flowers resting in the vase.
She found herself thinking of Ahan.
The awkwardness between them was almost unbearable.
Whenever she was around him, her heart simply refused to behave normally.
This won’t do.
Determined to fix it, she took out a notebook and began drafting a plan for getting closer to her fiancé.
How to Become Friendlier with My Fiancé
- Say good morning.
- Say hello at lunch.
- Say good evening.
She stared at the page.
Nothing but formal greetings.
She couldn’t think of anything else.
“What else is there…?”
She added another line.
- Decide how to address him.
- Casual speech? Formal speech?
→ Formal speech. That’s more comfortable.
At some point, her neatly organized plan had turned into little more than doodles.
A flower petal drifted down onto the page.
She picked it up carefully.
His first gift.
It made her feel… welcomed.
She gently plucked several iris petals and pressed them between the pages of a book.
I hope they stay beautiful for a long time.
She wanted to preserve today’s feelings for as long as possible.
She wrote another note.
He’s quiet…
But he’s a genuinely good person.
After a brief pause, she added one more word beneath it.
…Maybe?
She drew several question marks after the last three letters before closing what now resembled more of a sketchbook than a diary.
After calling her grandmother, Yeoreul climbed into bed.
Moonlight slanted softly through the window of the spacious bedroom.
Everything appeared peaceful on the surface.
Yet somehow, the comfort felt fragile—as though it could shatter at any moment.
Even the sounds of the night were unfamiliar.
Thinking about the strange atmosphere she’d shared with Ahan, Yeoreul pulled the blanket all the way over her face.
The tranquil mansion surrounded by forest gradually soothed her restless mind.
More than anything…
She felt surprisingly safe.
Morning slowly brightened the world beyond the windows.
Warm sunlight spilled into the room.
Stretching lazily, Yeoreul sat up in bed.
A few sleepy blinks later, the haze in her mind cleared.
She lowered her feet onto the floor and quietly listened.
Judging from the cheerful sounds outside, today seemed to be another beautiful day.
Drawn by the sunshine, she wandered toward the terrace.
She pulled the delicate curtains aside and stepped through the glass doors.
The countryside stretched before the elegant old mansion.
For a moment, the breathtaking scenery stole her breath.
She leaned against the terrace railing.
The breeze had stilled.
Reaching out, she brushed her fingertips across the leaves of a nearby tree.
Their cool, living softness made her smile to herself.
Then—
She sensed someone nearby.
Turning her head without thinking…
She froze.
Pale skin.
Silky black hair with faint brown highlights shimmering beneath the sunlight.
Ahan.
Already fully dressed, he stood on the neighboring terrace, quietly smoking a cigarette.
Only then did Yeoreul realize.
The two terraces were connected.
Their eyes met through the drifting smoke.
She jolted.
“G-Good morning!”
Her voice came out much louder than intended.
Ahan simply looked at her.
He said nothing.
Embarrassment rushed into her cheeks.
Only then did she remember.
Her hair was a mess.
Her face probably looked even worse.
With a tiny squeak of panic, she spun around and fled back inside.
The loose skirt of her dress vanished through the doorway.
Ahan watched the empty terrace in silence.
His fingertips idly traced the railing.
Slowly…
His fingers tightened around it without his noticing.
Forcing himself to remain calm, he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
Meanwhile, Yeoreul rushed into her room and collapsed onto her knees.
“It was the room right next to mine…”
So that was why.
She hurried over to the mirror.
One look at herself made her despair.
“My face…”
She wanted to cry.
Her very first morning greeting had been a complete disaster.
With a deep sigh, she carefully fixed her appearance, smoothing her hair as best she could.
For a moment she considered pretending nothing had happened.
But…
It was her first morning in this house.
She should properly greet everyone.
“It’s only polite.”
She hovered anxiously near the door, listening for sounds outside.
Not long afterward, she heard the faint click of dress shoes passing by.
Taking a deep breath, she carefully opened the door.
Ahan was walking down the hallway.
His broad back seemed impossibly distant.
She couldn’t exactly step outside wearing pajamas, so she remained half-hidden behind the door.
“Um… Lord Ahan…”
The moment the words left her mouth, she frowned.
That sounded strange.
“Director… no… Mr. Ahan…”
Covering her trembling lips with one hand, she finally managed to speak again.
“Have a safe trip.”
Standing up straight, she bowed politely.
Ahan stopped.
Then slowly turned around.
He walked toward her.
Yesterday, he had asked whether she wasn’t hot while wearing thick stockings.
Yet today, despite the summer weather, he himself was impeccably dressed in a tailored jacket and waistcoat.
Perfect.
Classic.
Without a wrinkle.
As she found herself wondering what his soft-looking black hair might feel like…
He stopped in front of her.
“I’m sorry.”
She lowered her head like a guilty child.
“I overslept.”
She cautiously peeked up at him.
Receiving no answer, she felt her cheeks warm.
“I won’t oversleep again starting tomorrow.”
A long silence followed.
“So…”
Ahan finally spoke.
“You’re seeing me off?”
Yeoreul blinked before nodding.
“Yes.”
“I see.”
His voice carried almost no emotion.
The silence that followed made her wonder if he was politely telling her she didn’t have to.
Her thoughts tangled together in an instant.
“I didn’t know our rooms were next to each other.”
She blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
Again.
That silence.
His gaze remained calm.
Yet there was something haunting about it—gentle, but strangely frightening.
“You’re the only other person living on this floor.”
His eyes grew deeper as they rested on her.
“If anything ever happens to you…”
“I want to be the first to know.”
The question Then why didn’t you tell me yesterday? rose to her throat—
Only to disappear.
His eyes seemed to answer before she could ask.
Because you didn’t.
“Will you come to my room tonight?”
Mesmerized by his impossibly beautiful face, Yeoreul quietly nodded.
Then—
Almost impulsively—
Ahan reached out.
His pale fingers touched her lips.
His index finger pressed lightly against her lower lip.
Yeoreul froze.
Gently holding her chin, he brushed his thumb over her slightly parted lips.
“So this is what it feels like.”
He sounded like someone touching a woman’s lips for the very first time.
“Be careful.”
“So it doesn’t fall.”
Yeoreul’s eyes slowly widened.
“The leaf.”
His unwavering gaze remained fixed on her.
“You looked like you were about to catch it.”
His tone was perfectly calm.
“You really are fearless.”
He murmured the words so quietly that she couldn’t tell whether they were a warning…
A concern…
Or simply an observation.
Her throat had tightened too much for any sound to emerge.
Without changing expression, Ahan lowered his hand.
Then he gave a small wave.
“Have a good day.”
His gentle farewell lingered in her ears as he turned and disappeared down the hallway.
The moment he was gone, Yeoreul rushed back into her room and threw herself onto the bed.
The mattress gave a soft whump beneath her.
What… was that?
Wrapping her arms tightly around herself, she whispered,
“…That was a little scary.”
It was a strange, uncomfortable feeling.
The instant Ahan’s fingers touched her lips, it had felt as though vines had wrapped themselves around her entire body, leaving her unable to move.
“Fearless…?”
For someone as timid as Yeoreul, it was an unfamiliar thing to hear.
Her heart continued pounding.
She suddenly sat upright.
What if she could still see him from here?
Hurrying to the window, she flung it open.
The shadow of a tree stretched diagonally across the roof of a sleek black luxury sedan.
Elegant and refined, with unmistakable European styling, the car glided away from the grand estate.
Yeoreul watched until it disappeared from sight.
