Promise with Yee Eun-chae 4
Yee Eun-chae's expression hardened slightly after reading the message. "Eun-chae, what's wrong?" Yoo Eun-chae asked worriedly from beside her, noticing her friend's troubled look.
"Hmm, it's nothing. The family just wants me to stop by the main house this weekend. They're asking me to bring a friend along, and that's what's bothering me."
Although the academy operated on a dormitory system, students could leave for the weekend with permission. If the Yee family summoned her, she could get approval from the academy and head out from Hero Island. She simply had to return by six in the evening on Sunday.
'They want me to bring him with me.'
The message from the Yee family laid out their instructions clearly. [Eun-chae. We'd like you to bring Seo Moon-jin, the heir of the Yucheon Group, to the main house this weekend. Please do bring him. We'll invite him under the pretext of meeting your friend. And while I'm at it, I'd like to know how you feel about Seo Moon-jin—not just as a friend, but as a potential partner.]
Unlike the Seo family, the Yee family was careful to accommodate her feelings. But that treatment only existed because Yee Eun-chae had proven her exceptional talent. If she had been nothing more than a pretty face with no ability, they would have treated her as nothing but a tool for a political marriage.
'The Yee family isn't particularly bad.'
Most other families were no different. Compared to the Seo family's extreme cruelty, the Yee family was relatively ordinary.
"A friend, huh..." Yoo Eun-chae immediately understood what she meant and turned to look at me. The person the Yee family wanted her to bring was obvious, especially after overhearing our conversation that morning.
'Arian is in a high position too, but she's a same-sex friend.'
In my case, I was a friend of the opposite sex, which meant they could easily twist it into an engagement. The Yee family knew better than anyone how stunning Yee Eun-chae's beauty was, so their intentions were crystal clear.
Yoo Eun-chae's family had been reduced to a name only after the villains' attacks, so she was free from these kinds of pressures. But even though Yee Eun-chae had gained some autonomy thanks to her talent, she wasn't completely free.
'Arian Liberin is a princess, so she can't move freely either.'
King Royus had given his daughter Arian Liberin the right to choose, but even if he hadn't, he couldn't have forced her into a marriage she didn't want. Arian Liberin wasn't just a princess—she was the heir who would one day succeed him as queen of the Liberin Kingdom.
"The Yee family is inviting Cheon-nim so openly. It feels far too blatant," Arian Liberin remarked, pointing out how forward the family was being with Yee Eun-chae's situation. She naturally understood that she was the reason for their behavior.
Yoo Eun-chae was no less beautiful, but the Liberin royal family held far more prestige than the Yee family. That was why the Yee family was primarily wary of Arian Liberin.
"Cheon, this weekend... could you help me?"
Instead of apologizing for what I'd said yesterday, Yee Eun-chae asked me seriously as a friend. She was used to giving but awkward about receiving, yet I nodded without hesitation.
"Sure, I got it. If you need my help, I'll go with you no problem. If I go with you, the Yee family won't bother you as much, right?"
"Thank you, Cheon."
Yee Eun-chae looked genuinely moved, as if she truly appreciated it from the bottom of her heart. [So this is what having a good friend feels like! I'm really grateful!]
She was sincerely thankful that I was helping her as a friend. Smiling at her, I said, "No need to thank me. Let's talk to the academy after lunch and get permission to go out this weekend."
"Understood. By the way, what time should we leave on the weekend?"
"We'll head out first thing in the morning. The sooner we get this over with, the better. We should be back before evening."
Yee Eun-chae agreed. "That makes sense. Hmm, if I'm bringing a friend, I wanted to take Arian and Hyun-ah too... but it probably wouldn't be good to go with everyone right now. So it'll just be me and Cheon. I'm sorry."
She didn't forget to apologize to Arian Liberin and Yoo Eun-chae either. She felt bad that she couldn't bring her friends home and was only inviting me under less-than-ideal circumstances.
'I told her there was no need to apologize for something like this... but I guess that only applies to me.'
Even without me stepping in, Arian Liberin and Yoo Eun-chae took the initiative.
"You don't have to apologize for this, Eun-chae. As your friends, we understand your situation. If anything, we're sorry we can't help because our presence would only get in the way. Right, Hyun-ah?"
"Yeah, Arian's right. Eun-chae, if there's anything I can do to help, I want to as your friend. This isn't your fault either."
Even the shy Yoo Eun-chae spoke clearly and firmly. Yee Eun-chae looked genuinely touched by their words.
"Ah, I really do have wonderful friends."
* * *
After getting permission from the academy to leave Saturday morning and return by Sunday evening at the latest, Yee Eun-chae's excitement gradually settled, only to be replaced by a wave of nervousness.
'Hmm, now that I think about it... if Cheon and I go together, the family might assume he's agreed to an engagement with me.'
The moment that thought crossed her mind, she remembered the sensation of Seo Moon-jin's hands kneading her backside yesterday, and embarrassment flooded over her.
"Eun-chae? What's wrong?"
Seo Moon-jin, who had also received permission to leave for the weekend, called out to her. He had probably noticed her standing there looking embarrassed by herself.
"Ugh, this is embarrassing. I was just thinking to myself and my mind wandered in a weird direction."
Seo Moon-jin chuckled and gently patted her head.
"Eut, what are you doing, Cheon?"
"Nothing, I just felt like patting your head. It's strangely fun."
"Ah, stop it! It'll be a hassle to fix my hair if it gets messy."
"Haha, sorry, sorry. But more importantly, Eun-chae, when we visit the Yee family this weekend, is there anything I should prepare or bring?"
"P-prepare?"
Yee Eun-chae scolded herself for her thoughts drifting somewhere strange again at his question. He was simply asking if there was anything he needed to bring when visiting a friend's house, yet her mind had gone off on its own bizarre tangent.
"Well... honestly, the family would probably be happy enough just with you coming."
That was the truth. If Seo Moon-jin visited, her father and mother would both be over the moon. In fact, everyone in the Yee family would react the same way.
"Hmm, if it's something the Yee family would like, I could just offer them a few business partnerships."
Yee Eun-chae, who knew that the Yucheon Group was effectively his, felt a pang of concern at those words. It was odd for someone in her position to worry about the owner of the Yucheon Group, but as a friend, she couldn't help worrying that he might be overextending himself.
"I-is that really okay? Even if you're the actual owner, doing something like that... I'm worried it might be too much."
Since they were inside the academy, she avoided directly saying he was the owner of the Yucheon Group. Her words sounded like concern that even the actual owner might be overdoing it, but to others it could be interpreted as worry that even the heir might be pushing himself too far—a cleverly ambiguous phrasing.
"It's hard to talk about important things here. Eun-chae, we still have some time. Let's go somewhere quiet and talk."
"That sounds good."
Yee Eun-chae also found the stares bothersome, so she agreed and moved with him. Once inside an empty room that resembled a small office, Seo Moon-jin immediately set up a soundproof barrier around them. Yee Eun-chae, who could sense it from inside, found it easier to understand the technique thanks to her improved mana control.
'The training I received from Cheon yesterday feels so much more profound now.'
As she looked at him with growing gratitude, Seo Moon-jin spoke.
"Eun-chae. You don't need to worry about my abilities as the owner of the Yucheon Group. Offering a few business partnerships is no different from buying snacks for a friend. And for you, I'd do even more than that. I promise this feeling won't change."
"Me too. For you, Cheon... I feel like I could even stake my life on it. I promise this feeling won't change either."
"Really? Then can I ask you for one favor?"
"What is it? As long as it's something I can do, I'll grant it—separate from the promise I just made."
"Then... can I just hold you for five minutes?"
"...Huh?"
At the completely unexpected request, Yee Eun-chae let out a dazed sound before her face flushed red.
"W-what are you saying? Th-this kind of joke isn't funny."
"It's not a joke. I'm serious. I just want to hold you for a bit and take five minutes to relax."
As he said that with a somewhat mischievous smile, Yee Eun-chae suddenly realized just how handsome Seo Moon-jin was.