Resumed Classes and Seo Moon-hyun's Suspicions
"Then I'll be going."
After lightly stroking Seo Moon-min-hye's cheek, I stepped out of the dormitory alongside Arian Liberin, who had already changed into her academy uniform.
Yesterday's events had been utterly shocking for Seo Moon-hyun.
'I can't believe Se-na and Arian went through something like that.'
When he heard that Lee Se-na had nearly been raped by villains, Seo Moon-hyun had been furious. He couldn't forgive the villains who had tried to commit such a horrific act against his childhood friend. Yet they were already dead, slain by Seo Moon-jin's hand.
'Arian was kidnapped too.'
The thought of Arian Liberin being abducted had genuinely enraged him. As the heir of the Seo family, he couldn't overlook someone daring to kidnap his "friend." But Seo Moon-jin had rescued her as well. When Seo Moon-hyun checked on her safety, something about Arian Liberin's demeanor struck him as strange.
"How rude. Please don't touch me so casually."
He couldn't forget the displeased expression on her face as she spoke those words.
"If you don't know, then don't approach me. And don't pretend to be familiar either."
"We were never friends. You were the only one acting like we were close, Seo Moon-hyun."
Though they had only known each other for a week, her sudden distance felt alien despite their previous closeness. The fact that she even denied they were friends came as a shock. What could have happened to make the girl who once smiled so gently at him change so drastically?
'Did Seo Moon-jin do something to her?'
Recalling how Seo Moon-min-hye had suddenly turned hostile toward him, Seo Moon-hyun began to suspect that Arian Liberin might have fallen victim to Seo Moon-jin's schemes as well. Otherwise, it made no sense for Seo Moon-min-hye to avoid returning to the Seo family estate and instead live freely on Hero Island. Most of all, he couldn't understand why she was staying so close to Seo Moon-jin.
'The heir of Yucheon Group. Just what is that guy's true identity...'
The Seo family had claimed they were investigating, but with no updates yet, it seemed they hadn't uncovered anything substantial. When Seo Moon-hyun had contacted the family to check, the only response was that they had found no information. That alone made it clear.
'Maybe I shouldn't have backed down yesterday.'
After Yee Eun-chae blocked him from speaking to Arian, Seo Moon-jin had stepped in as well, and Seo Moon-hyun had withdrawn without resistance. At the time, he had thought it considerate—Arian had just been kidnapped and rescued by Seo Moon-jin, after all. But now, looking back, it felt like a mistake.
'After rescuing Arian, who knows what kind of scheme he pulled.'
Seo Moon-hyun felt he couldn't let things stand as they were. Seo Moon-jin likely harbored secrets and conspiracies he knew nothing about. It was only a possibility, not a certainty, but the villains' attack might have been part of Seo Moon-jin's plan. He might even be connected to them.
'Just in case, I should commission an investigation from another source.'
If the Seo family couldn't handle it, he would have others look into it. He worried that Yucheon Group might interfere, but if he found people who didn't get along with them, he might still uncover something useful.
The next day arrived. As usual, Seo Moon-hyun waited for Lee Se-na to visit in the morning.
"What the...?"
Strangely, there was no contact from her. Normally, she would have come early to suggest having breakfast together. Yesterday, she had asked for some time alone to rest, and he had agreed without much thought, believing she was still shaken by Arian's situation. But what if...?
'Don't tell me Seo Moon-jin pulled something on Se-na too?'
Come to think of it, Seo Moon-jin was the one who had saved Lee Se-na from the villains who nearly raped her. The thought that he might have done something at that moment kept resurfacing.
With a hint of suspicion, Seo Moon-hyun concentrated his senses to locate Lee Se-na.
'The main gate.'
Sensing her presence near Gate A, Seo Moon-hyun hurried in that direction. What he saw upon arriving was her back view. She seemed to be waiting for someone. When he followed her gaze, his expression hardened.
'Seo Moon-jin!'
Seo Moon-hyun felt a chill at the sight of the man with rare black hair, easily recognizable. Standing beside him was Arian Liberin, her brilliant golden hair swaying as she walked with him. The atmosphere between them was intimate, almost like lovers.
'Arian?'
Seo Moon-hyun couldn't believe what he was seeing. It had only been two days since Arian smiled so softly at him, yet now she was laughing beside Seo Moon-jin like that. Had rescuing her really had such an effect?
'I thought Arian had feelings for me.'
Seo Moon-hyun genuinely believed that. He was convinced she had been drawn to his flawless, upright path as the heir of the Seo family. And Lee Se-na had openly shown her affection for him as well. The fact that she was now waiting for Seo Moon-jin came as a shock.
"Seo Moon-jin-nim."
From his hiding spot, Seo Moon-hyun watched as Lee Se-na approached Seo Moon-jin with a smile. She addressed him respectfully, clasping her hands together and bowing her head slightly.
"Thank you so much for saving me yesterday. It's nothing much, but I made these myself."
What she offered was a small box filled with cookies—homemade, it seemed.
"You made these yourself?"
"Yes. It's a small token compared to what you did for me... Is that okay?"
"Why wouldn't it be? Thanks, I'll enjoy them."
"Yes!"
At Seo Moon-jin's reply, Lee Se-na beamed with joy. Watching this scene, Seo Moon-hyun felt a strange hostility toward Seo Moon-jin.
'A thank-you gift for saving her yesterday...'
It was natural enough. If it were Lee Se-na, she would want to repay her savior in some way. Yet for some reason, the sight left a bitter taste in Seo Moon-hyun's mouth.
'Seo Moon-jin.'
A man bearing the same name as his incompetent older brother who had left the family in childhood. Though it was said he had been expelled for lacking talent, considering the noble traditions of the Seo family, someone who left at age five must have been deeply problematic. It was probably just to save face for the family and his brother that they had covered it up. Seo Moon-hyun sincerely believed that.
'Anyone named Seo Moon-jin seems to have issues.'
With that thought, Seo Moon-hyun secretly followed Lee Se-na after she bid Seo Moon-jin farewell. Once they were alone, he called out to her.
"Se-na."
"Ah, Hyun-ah."
She greeted him with her usual bright smile. But Seo Moon-hyun sensed an odd distance between them. She had baked homemade cookies specifically for Seo Moon-jin—something she hadn't even done for him since entering the academy. Since there were no classes yesterday, she must have spent time in the academy kitchen or cooking lab making them while claiming she needed rest. Yet she had given them to Seo Moon-jin first.
Suppressing these feelings, Seo Moon-hyun responded with his characteristic gentle smile.
"Where have you been so early in the morning? I was looking for you."
"Ah, sorry. I sent you a text... Did you not see it?"
"A text?"
Seo Moon-hyun pulled out his phone and saw the message from Lee Se-na.
[I baked some homemade cookies as a thank-you for Seo Moon-jin-nim saving me from the villains yesterday. I'll just drop these off and come right over.]
Reading the message eased Seo Moon-hyun's mind somewhat. At the same time, Lee Se-na's actions left him feeling slighted. It was as if she had done something wrong, and Seo Moon-hyun didn't deny that feeling. He simply chose to forgive her with his usual magnanimity. He didn't know exactly what was wrong, but if he felt that way, then it must be so.
'She's trembling.'
I noticed that Lee Se-na's expression was faintly shaking as she handed me the cookies. It was understandable—the shock from yesterday wouldn't fade so easily. The fact that she was trying so hard to act like nothing had happened was actually quite impressive.
"Lee Se-na seems very grateful to you."
"Looks that way."
Arian Liberin playfully poked my arm with her finger as she spoke, but I merely nodded without much interest and stored the cookie box in my dimensional storage.
"I already ate a quick breakfast, so let's skip the cafeteria and head straight to the classroom."
"Yes, let's do that. Since we're going early, I hope Eun-chae and Hyun-ah are already there too."
Arian Liberin seemed eager to see them, perhaps because yesterday's events had reaffirmed their friendship.
"Sure."
Arian Liberin and I headed straight for the classroom, but it was still empty. The first class of the day—theory class—hadn't started yet, and most students were only just beginning their breakfast.