Chapter 198
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Overprotection (2)
‘Ha...’
“Yun-seong, try this. It’s made by a really famous chef, so I bought it for you.”
I had no idea where Seo Yu-ju had gotten it from, but here she was, feeding me some lunchbox she’d brought.
“Here, have a bite of this meat. Come on, say ahh~”
It was ridiculous. I wasn’t some invalid patient getting spoon-fed.
And to top it off, we weren’t even alone—Wi Ho-yeon, my bodyguard, was standing right there beside us.
“No, I mean... with Ho-yeon here... I can feed myself...”
Wi Ho-yeon cut me off before I could finish.
“Please don’t mind me. It’s fine.”
Seo Yu-ju smiled at me after hearing Wi Ho-yeon’s words.
“...See?”
‘Damn it... I’m the one who’s bothered. Is she doing this on purpose?’
I didn’t know if it was some kind of showboating or what, but lately, Seo Yu-ju had made a habit of showering me with affection whenever Wi Ho-yeon was around.
Wi Ho-yeon stayed completely professional, fulfilling her bodyguard duties without a hint of reaction, but from my position, it was impossible not to feel awkward.
No matter what she said about not needing to worry about her, any normal person would.
‘...Is she warning Wi Ho-yeon not to get any ideas because this is her place right here?’
Honestly, I was getting fed up with Seo Yu-ju’s behavior.
‘...I need to talk to her alone about this.’
No matter what, I couldn’t just let her keep treating Wi Ho-yeon like this when I knew how Wi Ho-yeon felt about me.
It was honestly heartbreaking to watch.
Especially since I knew Wi Ho-yeon was suppressing her feelings for me, even lowering herself in the process.
‘But more importantly, how long is this nonsense going to go on?’
I took a bite of the meat Seo Yu-ju offered and carefully broached the subject.
“...Don’t you think it’s about time I could go outside?”
“...What?”
Seo Yu-ju froze mid-feed.
I hesitated a bit at her changed demeanor, but I felt like this situation called for me to push harder.
“The safety issue is pretty much...”
“No.”
‘What the hell.’
Before Seo Yu-ju could even respond, Wi Ho-yeon was already glaring at me with steely eyes.
“What are you saying right now, Mr. Lee Yun-seong?”
“No, I...”
“Yun-seong, that’s not happening.”
‘Damn it.’
I’d silently put up with Seo Yu-ju’s PDA right next to her, but the moment my safety came up, Wi Ho-yeon reacted like a ghost. It was exasperating.
And Seo Yu-ju was locking eyes with me, her gaze screaming that it was absolutely out of the question.
“...Ha, so are you both planning to keep me locked up forever?”
“That’s not it, but still—no.”
“.....”
“I don’t want you feeling like it’s imprisonment. We’re only doing this for your safety.”
“What...”
“Mr. Lee Yun-seong, I agree with the Master. Please don’t think of it as confinement.”
“Isn’t this exactly confinement? You won’t even let me go outside...”
“If there’s anything you need, I’ll go out and get it for you. If you’re feeling cooped up, how about a walk in the garden right in front of the clan house? I can escort you if you’d like.”
“That’s not really ‘outside’...”
“Or if you need personal assistance, just let me know and I’ll handle it...”
At the words “personal assistance,” Seo Yu-ju’s eyebrow twitched, and she cut Wi Ho-yeon off.
“Personal assistance? What are you talking about? No need. I’ll take care of Yun-seong.”
“...I’m sorry.”
My head was starting to ache from these two women. They weren’t going to listen to a word I said.
‘Ha, fine. Time will sort this out, I guess...’
My freedom could wait, but I couldn’t just leave Seo Yu-ju acting like this toward Wi Ho-yeon.
“...Ho-yeon, I think I left something in the office. Could you grab it for me?”
“Ah... What is it?”
“Some documents, and... oh, the materials I asked In-woo for. Those too, please.”
“Yes, understood.”
I needed to get Wi Ho-yeon out of the room for a bit. There were things I couldn’t say with her there.
The moment Wi Ho-yeon left my room, I hardened my expression and called out to Seo Yu-ju.
“...Seo Yu-ju.”
‘I need to be firm.’
I had to act like I was angry. Well, truthfully, I was a little irritated.
Seo Yu-ju had been blatantly ignoring and belittling Wi Ho-yeon lately, and it didn’t sit well with me watching it.
“Huh...?”
She looked flustered at my suddenly icy tone.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Are you crazy?”
“W-Why? D-Did I do something wrong...?”
I felt bad for Seo Yu-ju, but in our relationship, I held the absolute upper hand.
It felt a bit off dividing men and women into dominant and submissive roles, but in truth, all relationships had shades of that dynamic.
Trashy as it sounded, especially in romantic ones, the one who cared more always ended up on the weaker side.
“You’re being too harsh to Ho-yeon.”
“.....”
“I get it when we’re alone. I feel bad about things with you too. But doing this all the time is too much.”
‘Did my words upset her?’
She sat there silently like some moody teenager, but I could faintly sense the dissatisfaction on her face.
“Ha, but...”
“But? Ha...”
“Ah...”
At my attitude, Seo Yu-ju looked almost fearful—not of me being scary, but because I’d never shown this side to her before.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never really gotten mad at Seo Yu-ju like this.’
“S-Sorry. I was wrong... P-Please, I...”
“Do you really think you were wrong?”
“Y-Yes! I really do. I messed up... Please don’t be mad...”
‘...Damn, this makes it hard to stay firm.’
Seeing her so submissive and low, my resolve softened inevitably.
“Sigh... Come here.”
I let out a breath, pulled her into a hug, and stroked her hair. I could feel her relax in relief.
“Sorry... It was jealousy. I’m sorry...”
I flinched for a moment at her teary voice admitting it was jealousy, but I played it cool.
“Jealousy?”
“Yeah... I got jealous...”
“Ugh...”
I stroked her hair for a good while. I figured since I’d made my point, she wouldn’t do it again.
Fortunately, after my talk with Seo Yu-ju, she stopped deliberately ignoring or talking down to Wi Ho-yeon.
She still made comparisons in bed, but... that much I could tolerate.
And it seemed Wi Ho-yeon had picked up on my private word with Seo Yu-ju, because when we were alone, she approached me.
“Thank you, Mr. Lee Yun-seong.”
“Huh? For what...”
“...I know you spoke to the Master on my behalf.”
‘...She noticed right away.’
Then again, Wi Ho-yeon wasn’t stupid—in fact, she was pretty sharp.
Especially since she’d worked with me a lot; she’d have realized the stuff I’d asked her to fetch that day wasn’t anything I actually needed.
‘Plus, she’d have felt the change in Seo Yu-ju’s attitude skin-deep since then.’
No matter how much Wi Ho-yeon pretended to be unflappable, the heart wasn’t that tough.
Seo Yu-ju’s behavior must have weighed heavily on her. She’d probably just suffered in silence.
“Eh, no big deal. I just couldn’t ignore it.”
“...You’re always so kind.”
‘Kind, my ass...’
“Anyway, how’s Baek Si-hoon these days?”
Wi Ho-yeon flinched the instant I mentioned his name.
“Ah... W-Why do you ask?”
“I’m thinking of having a chat with him. Got some questions for interrogation, and I kinda wanna see his face. Didn’t he get you hurt?”
“Ah... Y-Yeah.”
“From what I hear, he’s locked up in a cell for now.”
“...Yes, that’s right. Eternity Clan does have an underground prison. Though it hasn’t been used in quite a while...”
Large clans usually had facilities to hold criminals.
Eternity Clan had one, but it had only been used occasionally during the days of the previous master. Not once since Seo Yu-ju took over.
“Anyway, I plan to go see Baek Si-hoon. How’s his condition?”
“...He was raging at first, but now he’s resigned somewhat, from what I hear. But... you’re going now?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Wi Ho-yeon hesitated briefly at my answer, then spoke carefully.
“Um... Mr. Lee Yun-seong. Sorry, but could you head there first? It’ll just be a moment...”
“Huh?”
“I need to grab something from my quarters real quick, then I’ll follow right away.”
‘Grab something?’
I was puzzled. She was already armed, and I’d never seen her carry personal items.
“It’s not urgent, so let’s swing by your quarters together.”
“N-No, that’s okay! Go ahead—I’ll catch up soon!”
‘What’s with her?’
...It felt like Wi Ho-yeon was hiding something.
“...Got it. I’ll head to the prison first.”
‘Everyone’s got their secrets.’
I didn’t press her. Her reaction suggested it was something personal.
I headed straight to the prison after parting with Wi Ho-yeon. No guards in sight.
Baek Si-hoon was already restrained, and escape was impossible on his own, so it wasn’t a big deal.
First time seeing the prison since joining Eternity Clan.
I’d expected it to be filthy and poorly maintained, but while it was dimly lit, it looked surprisingly clean.
‘Fancy digs for a guy like him.’
A far cry from the underground cell in the training facility.
He spotted me just as I found him.
“You...”
‘He looks like hell.’
Kneeling with his arms chained. His body was a mess—he’d clearly taken some venting beatings.
‘...Not Wi Ho-yeon’s style. Seo Yu-ju, then.’
“How... how are you still alive?”
He gaped at me like an idiot.
He must’ve thought I was dead. Makes sense—he’d met a clone and taken it for the real me.
But more than that, seeing his face made my lip curl involuntarily.
“Haha, you look pathetic, huh?”
Maybe it was the stress from dealing with Seo Yu-ju and Wi Ho-yeon lately, but I was itching for this.
The guy stared blankly at my taunt for a second before exploding.
“You bastard! How dare you, how dare you...!”
‘Typical of these types—their egos are through the roof.’
I could kind of understand. Called the Divine Spear, he was a top-tier player.
From his view, whether foreigners like him or natives, most people must’ve seemed worthless.
‘Plenty of guys who’d drop from one spear swing, right?’
His arrogant personality, backed by overwhelming power, probably made the whole world feel like his playground.
No need to worry about anyone’s eyes when turning outlaw.
That’s what led to this end, though.