Chapter 551: Planting the Seeds of Corruption
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 551: Planting the Seeds of Corruption
"Is... is that really true?!"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon asked Sun-woo, her eyes widening in shock. The words that had just escaped his lips were entirely unexpected.
"......It is the truth."
Sun-woo replied, his expression heavy with gravity.
"Ah... oh no..."
Upon hearing his confirmation, Hwangbo Yu-yeon clutched her forehead with her right hand as if overcome by a sudden dizzy spell. The revelation was so shocking that her mind was in complete disarray.
A mother and daughter both in love with the same man? How could such a thing even happen?
"....Yu-yeon, are you alright?"
Sun-woo asked with concern, watching her as she held her head. He seemed worried about the state of her mind after such a blow.
"Wait... just a moment... please... give me a moment to gather my thoughts."
She spoke slowly, her eyes squeezed shut as she continued to press her hand against her forehead.
"I understand."
Sun-woo nodded slightly. He judged that she needed time to process this on her own rather than receiving clumsy words of comfort.
"......Thank you."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon expressed her gratitude for his consideration. Then, she began to untangle the chaotic thoughts in her mind.
I never imagined... that Ran-ah would fall for Sun-woo.
She didn't find her daughter's feelings incomprehensible. Sun-woo was a man possessed of a charm that no woman could resist. He was kind, considerate, handsome, and his martial arts and reputation were flawless. How could anyone not fall for him?
The problem, however, was that she loved him too. No, 'love' was an understatement. She adored him. She could no longer imagine a single day without him.
That was the crux of the issue. Both mother and daughter had fallen for the same man at the same time.
What should I do...? What am I supposed to do in this situation...?
She agonized over it again and again. She weighed what choice to make in the face of such a tragic circumstance. Yet, no suitable solution came to mind.
She knew her daughter’s stubbornness better than anyone. If Sun-woo did not accept her love, the girl’s health would surely wither away. Furthermore, she might live out the rest of her life in loneliness, never looking at another man again. Being rejected by the one you love was a sorrow more miserable than anything else in the world.
But she couldn't exactly ask Sun-woo to accept her daughter's confession, either. She loved him just as much. This was a love that had found her again after twenty long years. She didn't want to yield this love to anyone else—not even her own daughter.
And so, she was torn. Her maternal instinct and her romantic devotion were at war. Her daughter was precious, more so than anything else in the world. But Sun-woo was precious too, so much so that life without him was unthinkable.
She didn't want to lose either of them. Because of that, she was at a loss. Her mind simply couldn't conceive of a way to have both. Her expression grew even more somber as she delved deeper into her thoughts, trying to find the best possible outcome.
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"........Sun-woo."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon looked at him and slowly opened her mouth.
"Please, speak, Yu-yeon," Sun-woo replied in a calm tone.
"He... help me......"
She spoke with tears welling in her eyes. The tears were inevitable. She felt pathetic for being so greedy that she couldn't bear to lose either, even though she had no solution.
"I will do whatever I can."
Sun-woo nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"I... I don't want to give you up... I don't want to let go of the man I love. Not even... not even for my daughter."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon continued, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she gazed at him.
"You don't have to give me up. I will always be by your side."
"But... I don't want to see my daughter suffer... I don't want to see her in pain... What should I do? What choice am I supposed to make? I don't know... I really... I don't know."
She stared at Sun-woo, her eyes filled with sorrow. She couldn't choose. Sun-woo and her daughter were both the most precious people in her life. She didn't want a crack to form in her current relationship, she didn't want to part with Sun-woo, and she didn't want her bond with her daughter to be ruined.
"Is it impossible to just leave things as they are?"
"With Ran-ah?"
"Yes. It's just puppy love, after all. If she suffers for a few days, she'll eventually move on."
Sun-woo spoke in a level voice. The fever of a first love was something everyone experienced. Enduring that fever and maturing was part of the process of becoming an adult.
"I can't do that."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon shook her head firmly at his suggestion.
"And why is that?" Sun-woo asked, sounding puzzled.
"Ran-ah is an incredibly stubborn child. Even I, her mother, have to throw up my hands in defeat. If we leave her like this, something terrible will happen."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon stared at Sun-woo with sad eyes.
"Help me... Sun-woo... please... I beg of you... help me so I don't lose my daughter... and so I don't lose you."
She pleaded with him, her eyes searching his.
"............."
Sun-woo looked at her, then fell into a grave silence. He appeared to be deep in thought, grappling with a dilemma that even he found difficult to solve. Hwangbo Yu-yeon waited quietly, her eyes mournful, waiting for him to speak again.
After some time had passed, Sun-woo finally broke the silence.
".........Yu-yeon."
".....Please, tell me."
"Can you truly not give up either?"
"Yes... I don't want to let go of either... To me, both my daughter and you are precious..."
She mumbled, baring her inner heart to him. She confessed her desire to keep both. She was well aware that she was being excessively greedy, but she still didn't want to give up. If she lost them, there would be nothing left of her life.
"Sigh..."
Sun-woo let out a deep sigh.
".....It's not that there isn't a way."
He looked at Hwangbo Yu-yeon as he spoke.
"Really!?"
Her face brightened instantly. She hadn't imagined he would come up with a solution so quickly.
"Yes... but there is a problem."
"A problem?" she asked, confused.
"Yes, a problem."
Sun-woo nodded.
"What kind of problem?"
"It is a method that is socially unacceptable."
Sun-woo spoke with a deliberate air of seriousness.
"Once you hear the method I've thought of, you might even become very angry with me."
He stared at her with a steady gaze.
"Are you still okay with hearing it?"
"..........It doesn't matter."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon replied, her voice filled with resolve as she looked at him.
"Isn't our relationship already something that defies social norms? What is there left to hide or avoid at this point? I don't care, as long as I can protect my daughter and you."
She stared at him with eyes full of determination.
"So please, tell me. What is this method?"
"...........Since you put it that way, I suppose I have no choice."
Sun-woo continued, his expression looking more serious than ever.
"The method is simple. I just have to accept Lady Soran's confession."
"............Does that mean... you're telling me... to give you up?"
She spoke with trembling eyes, looking hurt. His words seemed to have struck her like a physical blow.
"How could you... say such a thing..."
"Yu-yeon, that's not what I meant. How could I ever say something so cruel to my lovely Yu-yeon?"
Sun-woo shook his head.
"Then what did you mean by that?" she asked, looking lost.
"I mean that I will accept both you and Lady Soran as my women."
"Wh-what!?"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon asked in bewilderment. What on earth was he saying? He would take both her and her daughter at the same time?
"That's impossible!"
She raised her voice, shouting in disbelief. It was unthinkable. How could a mother and daughter both be subservient to one man? It could never happen. How could they commit such a depraved act?
"Didn't I tell you... that it was a method that goes against all social conventions?"
When she reacted with such adamant refusal, Sun-woo spoke with an awkward expression.
"Of course it does! A mother and daughter serving one man! That's an act against human ethics!"
"Didn't you say it didn't matter since we're already committing adultery?"
"Th-this... this is different!"
"It is not different, Yu-yeon. In the end, it's the same act of straying from the path of human morality."
Sun-woo spoke calmly.
"Even so, I can't allow such a thing! If this ever gets out, people will point their fingers at us!"
"Then do you have any other suitable method?"
"............"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon fell silent at his question. There was no way she had another solution.
"If we... think carefully... I'm sure... I'm sure we can come up with a better way."
She began to stammer, her face pale with distress.
"Yu-yeon, even at this very moment, Lady Soran's life force is being chipped away bit by bit. It's a great illness called a broken heart. We need a swift decision."
Sun-woo spoke to her with absolute sincerity.
"......How could..."
"As far as I know, that is the only ending where everyone can be happy. You know better than anyone how it feels to be rejected by the one you love, don't you? Do you intend to make your daughter carry that wound for the rest of her life?"
Sun-woo spoke as if reproaching her.
"....That's not it..."
"Then make a decision. Tell me what you want to do. I will follow whatever you say. If you tell me to go to Soran, I will go. If you tell me to stay here, I will stay. So please, make your choice."
Sun-woo stared at her with eyes full of resolve.
".............."
Meeting that gaze, Hwangbo Yu-yeon fell into deep thought, her expression grim. She had no idea what decision to make. She didn't want to lose her daughter or Sun-woo. But to keep them, she had to commit a depraved act that abandoned all social norms. She would become no different from a beast that cared nothing for law or order.
How could she decide such a thing easily? She couldn't help but agonize. She slowly lifted her head and looked forward.
The face of the sinful man entered her vision. A handsome man overflowing with charm. Sun-woo's face.
Looking at that face, she thought to herself: It's no wonder my daughter fell for him.
He was a superior male. Not only did he have a handsome face and a solid physique, but he also possessed power so great that he was already being discussed as the future World's Greatest Martial Artist. Furthermore, he was a man whose wealth was among the top in the Central Plains. Appearance, ability, wealth, and fame—he lacked nothing.
How could any lowly female reject such a superior male?
Yes, if it's not Sun-woo, she'll only end up with some insignificant man.
She began to rationalize her thoughts. She told herself that there was no one in the world better suited to be a son-in-law than Sun-woo.
Rather than marrying her off to some good-for-nothing from who-knows-where, wouldn't it be better for us to serve one man together?
The rationalization began to accelerate.
"Sun-woo."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon finally spoke.
".......Yes, speak."
"Can you... love both of us equally?"
She asked, looking at him with eyes full of anxiety.
"I will strive to do so. I will make sure to give you both a love that satisfies."
Sun-woo nodded heavily.
"..........Really... is that true?"
She asked again, as if seeking a solemn vow.
"Of course.... Have you ever seen me tell a lie?"
"...............You're right..... You've never deceived me, Sun-woo."
She nodded at his words. He had never once told her a lie. Since he said it, her trust in him began to solidify rapidly.
"I'll believe you..... Sun-woo."
"Indeed, just trust me, Yu-yeon. I will make you happy for the rest of your life."
Sun-woo spoke, his gaze burning as he looked at her.
"..........I'm happy."
Hearing those words, she wore an expression of deep emotion. Happiness welled up within her as she met his certain gaze.
"Then, do I have your permission?" Sun-woo asked, looking curious.
".......Yes...... Please... take my daughter... as your woman."
She nodded, giving her consent.
"You won't regret this?"
".....I won't regret it."
She spoke with eyes full of conviction.
"There is no man in the world more superior than you, Sun-woo... For the sake of my daughter's happiness... it will be a better choice... for both of us to serve you."
She looked at him with a steady gaze. In those eyes, conviction and madness were inextricably intertwined.