Chapter 108
Since Yuna had given her blessing for Cheon Seong to pursue his feelings toward Hwa-young, her smile no longer seemed ready to fade.
"Hehe, hehehe."
"What exactly do you like so much that you’re grinning like an idiot?"
Frustrated by the question, Cheon Seong asked what Hwa-young found so pleasing about him. Hwa-young covered her mouth with her hand and replied while staring at him.
"Hehe, it’s just that Yuna allowed me to be with you."
"I haven’t actually said I’ve accepted you. I only said I’d give you a chance."
She drew a line, yet left a sliver of room for herself—words that felt dangerously close to approval.
Anyone else would have taken it as managing her emotions and felt offended, but Cheon Seong’s personality was too far from such games. Hwa-young knew this well. She had once been clueless about his gentle nature, yet now she understood every small act of consideration he showed.
"That’s right~ And you do have a chance, don’t you?"
"...Do as you please."
"Ah, you’re still shy."
Caught by the shy tone hidden behind his casual words, Hwa-young poked Cheon Seong’s arm with her finger.
Cheon Seong’s face turned sour. He never blushed, yet here he was, glaring at her teasing.
"I’m not shy. When are you leaving, anyway? Isn’t it almost time for the Lucinus training session?"
"Mmm~ It is, but I’d rather be with someone I like."
"Then at least come by the house sometime. Your family will worry."
"No way~ It’s fine! A quick call and that’s it."
Despite Cheon Seong’s desperate attempts to send her away, Hwa-young kept insisting that time with him mattered more than time with family. Her blunt words almost nailed his heart. A sigh slipped out of him.
Five Colors
Slithering closer, Hwa-young lay down beside Cheon Seong.
"Hey. It’s too narrow—get off."
"I don’t want to~ This place is comfy."
Cheon Seong tried to push her away, but Hwa-young wrapped her arms around his sturdy body and refused to let go. Too weak to force her off, he finally relented and withdrew his hand.
Cheon Seong’s silent acceptance made Hwa-young smile. She rubbed her cheek against his firm chest.
Mrrrowl
Like a cat different from Hana’s, Hwa-young purred. Cheon Seong chuckled and gently stroked her fiery red hair.
Jerk!
The purring body trembled slightly under his touch. Through the strands, Hwa-young’s ear glowed bright red.
"You shove me around like a bulldozer, yet when I give you a head pat you turn all red?"
"S-shut up! Expressing feelings to someone you like is completely different from someone you like doing it for you, you idiot!"
"Just a head pat?"
"Ugh, I don’t know either—stop asking!"
She thought for a moment that the one expressing affection should feel more embarrassed, but then remembered how flustered she herself had been the first time Yuna and Beatrice showed affection.
Cheon Seong carefully memorized every expression of embarrassment on Hwa-young’s face.
He had promised to try loving her. Honestly, he still wasn’t sure he could keep that promise.
And could he ever love Hwa-young equally with Yuna and Beatrice?
She had spoken of it in the dungeon, but Cheon Seong knew he wasn’t like most men who dreamed of having a harem. The idea of many women who liked him and him loving them all back felt more like a fairy tale up close than something real.
People were selfish. Even if someone’s heart was kind, deep down they hoped their partner would love them more. If you tried to satisfy everyone, jealousy would only grow until it swallowed everything whole.
Just look at history—kings who took multiple wives never escaped their own infidelities.
Even now, with two women—Yuna and Beatrice—Cheon Seong still loved, he wasn’t sure he could offer equal love to a third.
Of course he tried to be fair. But fairness was his idea. He had no way of knowing how Yuna and Beatrice would feel.
Two people already made it difficult to love equally. Adding a third felt impossible.
Cheon Seong’s face grew darker. Complex thoughts swirled in his black eyes.
Was he already tilting the scale of his heart toward Yuna and Beatrice? Was he accepting Hwa-young under false pretenses?
Tap.
At that moment, something warm and soft touched Cheon Seong’s cheek, then left.
Turning his head, he found Hwa-young blushing as she smiled at him, worry flickering in her eyes.
"How was it? Better now?"
"...What?"
Cheon Seong didn’t understand her question. Hwa-young pressed her lips to his cheek once more and answered.
"You look too serious. How is it? Better now?"
"Hah, you get a cheek kiss and suddenly I’m supposed to be better?"
"Ugh, what do you mean—! I got brave and did it, and you’re acting like this!"
Too embarrassed to meet his gaze, Hwa-young puffed out her cheeks like a furious pufferfish.
Cheon Seong poked the swollen cheek with a finger.
Psst—psshhh
The cheek deflated with a hiss, then puffed back up when he removed his hand. He poked it again.
"Hey! I hate you! You know what I want and you still—Hmph!"
The cheek inflation-deflation game lasted only a moment, but Cheon Seong kept poking it. Hwa-young finally turned away, clearly sulking.
'She was more fun to tease than I expected.'
She had known exactly what he wanted from the start, yet the sudden prank had been far more enjoyable than he thought. Feeling he’d teased her too much, he decided to give her what she wanted—after one last important thing.
"Hey, Hwa-young."
"...Why."
Even sulking, she answered when called. A tiny smile touched Cheon Seong’s lips before vanishing.
"Why do you like me?"
He had heard it before, but this time the situation was different. He needed her to say it again—only then could he keep his promise with even a fraction of sincerity.
Cheon Seong waited in silence, gently stroking her hair. When Hwa-young finally turned back to face him, she answered.
"You look at me differently from other people. And… being with you is so fun I lose track of time."
She had given the reason she liked him, yet it felt too childish to Cheon Seong. Just like an ordinary girl who adored the one who took care of her.
Reading his thoughts, Hwa-young smiled beautifully and blushed again.
"And your cold exterior hides how much you think of me. I really like that."
Her words ended. Her face was now crimson, far beyond her cheeks, from the pounding heart to the sheer embarrassment.
Cheon Seong gazed at her without a word. Her honest, unexaggerated expression touched him deeply.
"I- I feel embarrassed when you look at me like that…"
Golden sunset light streamed through the window and wrapped her in its glow.
Her eyes caught the golden hue, yet the overwhelming shyness made her lower her head to avoid his gaze.
Pfft
"Really? Thank you for telling me. And…"
Swoosh
Cheon Seong lifted her chin. They locked eyes for a moment, then he smiled and pressed his lips to hers.
Kiss
"I like you too… just a little, very little."
The kiss was hesitant, yet her confession made her face burn even hotter. Steam rose from the top of her head.
Cheon Seong felt the world spin. Hwa-young twisted her body in embarrassment, and he kissed her again.
Swish, thud
"Huuung…"
Unable to hold back her embarrassment, Hwa-young spun her eyes and collapsed. Cheon Seong pulled the blanket over them both and stroked her hair.
His heart toward her was growing—slowly, yet surely.
***
The next morning, before Hwa-young headed to the academy, she and Yuna went to find Cheon Seong.
Koooooo
"What? He’s still sleeping."
Normally he would have woken by now, but Cheon Seong’s recovery was fast—yet not fast enough for this much sleep. The fatigue was too deep.
"Too bad, but there’s nothing we can do. Come on, Seong-ah, we’ll see you later."
Kiss
Yuna pressed a small kiss to his lips and smiled, then ruffled his hair.
Seeing Yuna like that, Hwa-young was lost for words. She bowed her head and fidgeted with her fingers.
If only she could give him the same kiss. She had received Yuna’s permission, but she wasn’t officially his girlfriend yet. The hesitation was clear in her eyes as she watched them.
Just as she was about to give up, Yuna pushed her back gently and said,
"Go on, Hwa-young. Give him a kiss to show you’re visiting."
Understanding what she meant, Hwa-young’s eyes sparkled for a second before she looked away.
"Huh? Ah, no. I’m fine…"
She forced a smile, but inside she was scolding herself for refusing what she truly wanted.
'Aaaah! You idiot! Yuna said it’s okay—why are you turning it down?!'
"Mmm~ Really? If Hwa-young says so."
"U-um, yeah. I’m fine, so let’s go."
Deep down, Hwa-young hoped Yuna would insist again, but Yuna accepted her answer and could not take back her own words. Heartbroken, Hwa-young told her to go first.
"Okay, let’s go. Ah! I forgot something important—can you wait here a second?"
"Huh? Sure, I’ll wait. Have a good day."
"Okay, Hwa-young. Sorry!"
Excusing herself, Yuna hurried out of the infirmary. Left alone, Hwa-young sighed and turned to leave when her gaze landed on Cheon Seong sleeping in the bed.
Unlike the usual messy look when he was asleep, his features were clear and sharp now. Hwa-young’s cheeks flushed.
Peek, peek
Checking the surroundings to make sure no one was there, she approached silently and kissed him gently on the lips.
Kiss
'Kyaaah! I did it! I really did it!'
Even though it wasn’t her first time, the kiss with the person she loved still made her heart pound like a drum.
"H-how about one more?"
She watched his sleeping face carefully and kissed him again.
The happiness that flooded her chest made her heart race and her face burn redder.
"J-just one more…"
Kiss
"R-real last time…"
Kiss
Each kiss felt like a drug. Hwa-young forgot she had class and kept kissing him desperately. Just as she was about to try one final time, Cheon Seong’s eyes snapped open and met hers directly.
Blip, blip-blip
Confused, Cheon Seong blinked. Hwa-young’s face turned the color of a ripe tomato.
Small tears gathered at the corners of her eyes with embarrassment when Cheon Seong finally understood the situation and asked,
"...What are you doing?"
"Kyuuh!"
Unable to bear the shame, Hwa-young covered her face with both hands and let out a muffled sound.
Cheon Seong asked from the doorway, "Hey. What’s Yuna doing outside?"
"W-what?! What do you mean—!"
Creak
"Ahaha, I knew I couldn’t fool Seong."
Surprised by the mention of Yuna waiting outside, Hwa-young forgot her embarrassment. Before she could finish speaking, the infirmary door opened. Yuna burst in, claiming she had something to get, and awkwardly entered.
Blushing while scratching her cheek, Hwa-young stared at Yuna. Yuna avoided her gaze and spoke carefully.
"It’s… because you couldn’t kiss Seong because of me, right? So I stepped out for a second to give you a scare… but I missed my chance because you were too bold. Seong caught you right away. Hehe…"
'Kyaaahaaaa!'
The color of Hwa-young’s face went from tomato-red to something beyond anything words could describe. She collapsed to the floor and covered her face with both hands, screaming.