Chapter 453: Will You Be My Woman?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 453: Will You Be My Woman?
"Ugh..."
Kang Ha-yoon furrowed her brow and let out a shallow groan.
The hot sunlight hitting her face had roused her.
A question flickered through her mind. How could the sunlight be shining so clearly inside the hut?
Did a hole open up in the ceiling?
Ha-yoon lamented inwardly. Of all the places to fall asleep, she had to pick a spot where the sun hit her directly in the face.
Let’s move.
She thought to herself. She just wanted to shift over and sleep a little longer. Normally, she would have gotten up, but today, she felt a strange urge to linger in bed.
"Mmph!"
Ha-yoon put strength into her body to roll onto her side.
Huh?
But something strange happened. No matter how much she strained, her body wouldn't turn. It was as if she were being held fast by something.
What is this?
Puzzled, Ha-yoon slowly opened her eyes. She wanted to see exactly what was restraining her.
"......Ah...?"
The moment her eyes opened, a dumbfounded gasp escaped her lips. An utterly unbelievable sight unfolded before her.
What filled her vision was a man. Moreover, it was a man with a very familiar face.
Thick, sword-like brows; a straight, prominent nose; and a mouth that seemed to hold a hint of playfulness.
Kang Ha-yoon knew this man. She couldn't not know him. He was the benefactor who had saved her life and the most famous rising star in the Murim.
Young Master... Jang?!
An internal scream erupted within her. She couldn't comprehend the situation at all. Why was Jang Sun-woo sleeping while embracing her?
It... it must be a sleeping habit, right?
She gazed at Jang Sun-woo with trembling eyes. She tried to convince herself that Sun-woo simply had terrible sleeping habits. That was the only way this situation made any sense.
Yes! That... that must be it! Of course.
However, she soon noticed something peculiar. She realized that Sun-woo’s upper body was bare. His robust chest muscles and broad shoulders filled her sight.
...No way.
Ha-yoon’s face crumpled. She slowly lowered her gaze.
And then, she fell into despair.
Her vision was filled with the sight of both her and Sun-woo, completely naked. In that instant, the truth crashed down on her.
She had spent the night with Sun-woo.
Tears began to well up rapidly in the corners of her eyes.
"Sob... hic... ugh... sob..."
Kang Ha-yoon began to weep sorrowfully.
"Hall Master... please, calm down."
Sun-woo, looking flustered, began to try and soothe her.
"Hic... how... how can I be calm...? I... I have committed a sin... I..."
"A sin...? I mean... it might be a mistake, but... well, isn't it just that? A mistake? Is there anyone in this world who hasn't made a single mistake?"
Sun-woo tried desperately to comfort her.
"Sob... hic... just because it's a mistake... doesn't mean everything is forgiven... hic... I am a woman who deserves to die... To have a perfectly fine husband and commit such... infidelity..."
Despite Sun-woo’s persuasion, Kang Ha-yoon shook her head and continued to berate herself. Even though she had been drunk, the shock of committing infidelity while having a husband seemed to have devastated her.
"No, Hall Master... You are not at fault... It is all my doing. I couldn't control my youthful blood and caused this."
Sun-woo hurriedly took the blame upon himself. He couldn't bear to see her suffering and blaming herself any longer. And since it wasn't entirely a lie, the words came out easily. While it was the drunken Kang Ha-yoon who had seduced him, it was his own will that had followed through.
"Sob... hic... Liar."
"Pardon?"
"Don't lie to me..."
Kang Ha-yoon continued, her eyes rimmed with red.
"Do you think I don't remember what happened yesterday? I was the one who seduced you, Sun-woo! I was the one making lewd jokes! Touching you bit by bit! And in the end, I used the ridiculous excuse of 'repaying a debt' to seduce you!"
Ha-yoon raised her voice, almost shouting. She was angry at Sun-woo for trying to play the villain for her sake.
Though she had been confused in her half-awake state, as time passed, the memories returned. She remembered how vulgarly she had seduced him. She had sent him subtle signals to change the atmosphere. she had stimulated him with suggestive touches. Under the guise of repaying a favor, she had done things she couldn't even bring herself to speak of.
And finally, she had shamelessly spread her legs and begged him to take her.
"Uwaaaaah!"
Ha-yoon began to sob again. She realized it. The one at fault was herself.
"Ugh... h-hic... sob..."
She burst into tears once more. There was nothing else she could do but cry. The situation had become far too grave to undo.
Even if their relationship was distant, she was a woman with a husband. And yet, she had seduced a junior who was significantly younger than her and committed adultery. How could this not be serious?
If this fact were to be revealed, not only she, but even Sun-woo—who had been seduced by her—would not escape condemnation. Not only that, they would likely be killed by the hands of a furious Lee Jae-won.
Guilt, self-reproach, and a deep sense of regret began to surge over her like a tidal wave.
"I'm so... so sorry... ugh... hic..."
Ha-yoon wept and apologized.
"I'm truly... sorry... Young Master Jang... sob... hic..."
She apologized to Sun-woo for dragging him into her infidelity.
"........Hall Master."
"I'm so sorry... Young Master Jang... This sin... I will pay for it with my life."
Ha-yoon reached out. She intended to strike the crown of her head then and there.
Grab!
Startled, Sun-woo quickly reached out and caught her hand. What on earth was she doing?
"What do you think you're doing!"
Sun-woo shouted, his face contorted in anger.
"My... sin... cannot be forgiven... unless I do this..."
"A death like that is nothing but an escape!"
"But... but..."
Ha-yoon looked at Sun-woo with sorrowful eyes.
"There are no 'buts'! If you're no longer in this world, how can you be forgiven!"
"...Still..."
"Everyone will insult you! They'll call you a foolish woman who ran away through death! Is that what you want?"
"............."
"And what's so wrong about committing infidelity anyway!"
Sun-woo continued, his voice filled with agitation.
"Lee Jae-won has neglected you for fifteen years! He left a perfectly fine woman alone for fifteen whole years!"
".............."
"So why are you the one feeling guilty? If Lee Jae-won had loved you properly and cherished you, would you have seduced me? Would you have committed such an act?"
".........."
"I don't think so. You are a person of chivalry who lives and dies by the code. There's no way you would have done that. You were just lonely. You were so lonely... you felt like you were going crazy... that's why you made that choice."
Sun-woo looked at her with a serious expression, beginning to rationalize her affair. He appealed to her emotions.
"So please... don't make a terrible choice... I'm begging you. You are not guilty. If there is guilt, it lies with Lee Jae-won for neglecting a woman as beautiful and virtuous as you for decades."
Sun-woo continued, his gaze burning with intensity.
"I'm asking you... please... don't blame yourself."
He slowly wrapped his hands around Ha-yoon’s.
"............"
Hearing Sun-woo’s words, Ha-yoon fell into deep thought, her lips pressed firmly together. A heavy silence settled between the two.
"......Why... are you... trying so desperately... to persuade me?"
She spoke as if she truly didn't understand.
"What do you mean why? It's obviously because—"
"From Young Master Jang's perspective, wouldn't it be better if I weren't around? I'm a very dangerous person to have as a one-night stand."
She looked at Sun-woo with eyes full of doubt.
"If Lee Jae-won finds out we spent the night together... Young Master Jang will die. If that's the case, wouldn't it be better for you if I were dead? ...So why... why are you... defending me... and... persuading me like this?"
She couldn't understand. Why was he protecting her so fiercely? She was just an older woman, nothing more.
"Haven't I told you repeatedly?"
Sun-woo spoke in a calm tone.
"I like you."
"..........."
"I like you so much... that my heart won't stop pounding."
Sun-woo gazed at Kang Ha-yoon with a heated look.
Flush.
"..........What... what are you..."
Hearing Sun-woo’s direct confession, Ha-yoon’s face turned beet red.
"Because I like you... I don't want to see it. I don't want to see you suffering... or trying to take your own life."
"................"
"I love you... Ha-yoon. So please don't die... for my sake..."
Sun-woo looked straight into Ha-yoon’s eyes with a sincere expression.
"..........I... I have a husband..."
"I don't care about that."
"......I'm... much older..."
"I don't care."
"........My stomach has come out a bit... and I think... I have more wrinkles..."
"None of that matters. In my eyes, you are still a beautiful, charming, and lovely woman."
Sun-woo continued, his gaze more passionate than ever.
"................"
Drop.
Ha-yoon hung her head low. The heat from Sun-woo’s intense gaze had made her face flush.
"Ha-yoon."
Sun-woo spoke again, his voice grave.
"Will you be my woman?"
".........."
"Of course, I know you have a husband. I also know he is the Cheonmu Alliance Leader. But even so, I didn't want to hide my feelings. I told you before, didn't I? That I would have confessed my love if you didn't have a husband. Actually, that was a lie. I wanted to confess my love regardless of whether you had a husband or not."
"............"
"I love you, Ha-yoon."
".........Sob... hic... ugh.."
Hearing Sun-woo’s words, Ha-yoon burst into tears. Her emotions were overwhelmed by hearing the words "I love you" directly.
It was something she hadn't heard once in fifteen years. It was something no one had ever said to her.
But now, those words—the words she had desperately longed for—were being spoken by this man. How could she not be moved?
"Waaaaaaaah!"
She finally broke down and wailed like a three-year-old child. Sun-woo quietly pulled her into his arms.
"Sniff... sniff... thank you... sniff... it's been... so long... since I heard those words..."
Leaning in Sun-woo’s arms, Kang Ha-yoon managed to speak as she tried to calm her sobbing. But her tears wouldn't stop easily.
She was a lone orphan who had even lost her only master to old age. There was no one in her life to whisper words of love to her.
But today, Sun-woo had whispered those words. How could she possibly stay calm? It was impossible.
"It's okay... I understand... Cry as much as you want..."
Sun-woo hugged her even tighter, offering comfort. He could feel the weight of the lonely decades she had endured through his entire body.
"....Sniff.... sniff."
Ha-yoon felt the warmth of Sun-woo’s embrace and slowly, very slowly, began to settle her emotions.
.
.
.
.
.
After some time had passed, her sobbing finally ceased. However, she showed no intention of leaving Sun-woo’s arms. In fact, she burrowed deeper into his chest, refusing to let go.
Stroke, stroke, stroke.
Sun-woo looked down at her, finding her adorable, and began to stroke her hair. She looked so cute that he couldn't keep his hands still.
"Are you feeling better?"
Sun-woo finally spoke.
".....Yes."
"You won't think those bad thoughts anymore, right?"
".....Yes."
"Then, can you give me an answer now?"
".......Yes."
Ha-yoon blushed shyly as she spoke.
".....I am... lacking in many ways... but please... take care of me..."
Embarrassed, Ha-yoon buried her face in Sun-woo’s chest. Sun-woo pulled her into a fierce embrace.
"Kyaa!"
A short scream escaped Ha-yoon’s lips, startled by Sun-woo’s sudden action.
"Thank you... truly... thank you..."
Sun-woo spoke to her with a bright smile.
"...No.... I'm the one... who should be thankful... You told someone like me that you love me."
"Because it's the truth."
Sun-woo spoke in a steady voice.
"..........I'm happy."
Ha-yoon replied in an excited tone, her face flushed.
Soon, a warm atmosphere began to flow between the two, as if their overflowing affection had even colored the air around them.