Obsession Takes Root
Hannam-dong Mansion, one of the main residences of the Daeseong Group. As the limousine passed through the massive iron gate and crossed the garden, Han Soeun could barely breathe. The scenery outside the car window felt unreal. To think a place like this existed in the heart of Seoul. The underground storage room at Club Eden, reeking of mold with rats scurrying about—that narrow cell had been her entire world. Yet in just one hour, she had arrived in heaven.
"Get out."
Lee Dohyun's indifferent voice dragged her back to reality. Han Soeun startled and opened the car door. Strength had abandoned her legs. The pain from the elixir's recoil had vanished, but the enormous waves of mana that flooded in to take its place still felt utterly foreign.
She staggered. "Ah..."
Just as she lost her balance and began to fall, a firm arm snatched her waist.
"Watch where you're going."
It was Lee Dohyun. He clicked his tongue in clear annoyance, yet his hand didn't release her. His scent rushed to the tip of her nose—a cool musk, and that unique fragrance of his that somehow brought a strange sense of stability.
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Can you walk?"
"Yes, yes. I can manage."
She nodded frantically. She couldn't afford to look like useless baggage. If he decided she was worthless, he might send her straight back to that hell. That terror alone forced strength into her trembling legs.
The front door opened, and servants in uniform stood lined up in perfect formation.
"Welcome home, Young Master."
The middle-aged man who appeared to be the butler bowed with polished respect. His gaze flicked briefly to Han Soeun beside Lee Dohyun in her ragged clothes. His eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, but he was too professional to let it show.
"Butler Kim."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Wash her."
Lee Dohyun jerked his chin toward Han Soeun.
"And find her something to wear. You can figure out her size at a glance, can't you?"
"Understood. Where shall we prepare the guest room?"
"Next to mine."
For an instant, the servants' eyes widened. The third floor containing Lee Dohyun's bedroom was practically a forbidden zone. Even family members rarely set foot there, yet he was bringing an unknown woman into that sacred space.
Lee Dohyun paid their reactions no mind and ascended the stairs.
"Oh, and one more thing."
He paused midway up the staircase. Without turning around, he added in a low voice.
"She has many wounds, so be gentle. If even one more scar appears, you can forget about your retirement bonuses."
"Y-Yes, Young Master! We will keep it in mind!"
Lee Dohyun continued up to the third floor without another word. Left behind in the hall, Han Soeun stared blankly at the spot where he had vanished.
Be gentle... Those words echoed in her chest. It was probably nothing more than concern that his expensive new possession might get damaged, but to Han Soeun it was the most lavish kindness she had ever received in her life.
"This way, miss."
The head maid approached. Han Soeun shrank into herself and followed.
The bathroom was larger than most studio apartments. The tub brimmed with rose-scented bubbles.
"Allow us to assist you."
"N-No! I can do it myself!"
Han Soeun waved her hands in protest, but the maids were insistent. They peeled away her old, filthy uniform. The naked body beneath was revealed.
"......My god."
One of the maids covered her mouth. Countless bruises marred the pale skin. Burn scars from cigarette butts. Red welts that looked like the aftermath of a whipping. The raw evidence of the hell she had endured lay completely exposed.
Han Soeun trembled with shame and covered her chest with her arms. It's dirty. I don't want him to see this body. If the Young Master saw it clearly, he would surely throw me away as filthy.
But the maids' eyes held no contempt. Only pity, and a quiet understanding of why their employer had ordered them to "be gentle."
"It must hurt. Please step into the warm water."
Han Soeun lowered herself carefully into the tub.
"Mmm..."
The gentle heat enveloped her entire body. As the tension melted away, tears sprang to her eyes. Only this morning she had splashed her face with cold tap water before heading to that wretched job.
Is this a dream?
Her fingers trembled as they toyed with the bubbles. If all of this was merely a dream conjured in that tiny room at the club—if she opened her eyes to the sound of that drunkard's shouting again—the thought alone was horrifying.
No. This isn't a dream.
She pressed hard on the bruise on her knee. It hurt. The pain proved this was real. And more than anything, she felt a new sensation deep within her body.
Mana. Like a dam that had finally burst, a vast energy originating near her heart now circulated throughout her entire being. The elixir had done its work. From now on, using magic wouldn't cause her pain.
The power the Young Master gave me...
Han Soeun placed her hand over her heart beneath the water. It was pounding wildly. Her face burned.
"I have to become clean."
She grabbed the sponge and scrubbed until her skin turned red. She wanted to wash away every trace of the past, every filthy memory. She wanted to become someone sparkling, someone worthy of standing at his side.
It was past one in the morning by the time I finished showering. I was exhausted. My body screamed for the bed, but my mind was too cluttered for sleep.
I walked to the window and drew back the curtains. Moonlight had settled over the garden.
Han Soeun. Today's greatest acquisition. Her condition had been worse than expected, but that only meant her potential was even more certain. After taking the elixir, her mana vessel must have expanded to S-Class—or perhaps even beyond.
The real issue was her mental state. The scars of abuse ran too deep. Her self-worth had hit rock bottom, and her distrust of people would be profound. It was only natural she'd be suspicious after I suddenly bought her for three billion won.
Maybe I should keep a proper distance while building trust. Spoiling her too much might overwhelm her. Being too cold might make her run away. Some calculated push and pull was necessary. Treat her strictly as a 'business partner' while occasionally tossing her small bits of care. A classic tsundere approach. Yeah, that felt right. It matched the original Lee Dohyun character and would be effective for rehabilitating someone with deep wounds.
Knock, knock.
A sound at the door. Who could it be at this hour? Surely not the butler.
"Come in."
The door opened cautiously. Han Soeun stood there.
I lost my words for a moment. After washing up, she was... a completely different person. The grime had been scrubbed away, revealing skin as white and translucent as jade. The faint shampoo scent drifting from her damp hair. The delicate line of her neck and collarbone visible beneath the loose silk pajamas the maids had provided.
Wow. The original novel had described her as possessing 'devastating beauty,' and it wasn't hyperbole. With proper care, she could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with Seo Yoona.
She lingered by the doorway, fidgeting. Staring at her toes and twisting her fingers, she looked exactly like a puppy anxiously reading its owner's mood.
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
She flinched at my question and looked up.
"Um... well... it's just..."
"You have something to say?"
"I can't... fall asleep."
Her voice was barely above a whisper. "When I close my eyes... it feels like I'll return to that place... I'm scared..."
Her shoulders trembled faintly. Trauma. Of course. She'd only just escaped hell; it made sense that sleep would terrify her.
I sat on the edge of the bed and beckoned.
"Come here."
Han Soeun approached with careful steps, stopping three paces away.
I lit the sleep-inducing candle on the nightstand. A soft lavender fragrance filled the room.
"Sit here."
I pointed at the rug beside the bed.
"What? B-But how could I possibly sit on the floor of your bedroom, Young Master..."
"Sit when I tell you to. My neck is getting sore."
At my firm tone, she quickly knelt. Our eye levels aligned.
I looked down at her. Those large eyes shimmered with unshed tears. A gaze swirling with anxiety, fear, and blind dependence on me.
"Your hand."
I extended my palm. After a brief hesitation, she carefully placed her hand in mine. It was ice-cold and trembling.
I gripped it firmly and channeled the faintest thread of mana. Resonance. By syncing her newly opened mana circuits with my own, I could calm the wild energy raging inside her.
"Mmm..."
A soft moan slipped from her lips. The warm current flowing through me wrapped around her. Her frantic heartbeat gradually steadied.
"Can you feel it?"
"Yes... It's warm..."
"Please sleep, Young Master."
Han Soeun cradled my hand with both of hers and rubbed her cheek against it, like a cat craving its owner's touch.
"I'll stay right here and watch over you all night. I won't sleep a wink until you wake up."
"......"
That was honestly a little terrifying. She planned to stare at me with her eyes wide open while I slept? But her gaze was so desperate that I couldn't bring myself to send her away. Just for tonight.
"Do as you please. But if I catch you dozing tomorrow morning, there'll be hell to pay."
"Yes! I absolutely won't doze off!"
She beamed. It was the first time I'd seen her smile. With the shadows lifted from her face, she was almost painfully beautiful.
I lay down and turned my back to her. I could feel her gaze boring into me from behind. It was intense, like lasers. Yet strangely, it didn't feel unpleasant. The sensation of someone watching over me with such desperate intensity was something I'd never experienced in either of my lives.
Well... it's not bad.
I closed my eyes. Knowing an S-Class mage was already standing guard behind me actually made it easier to fall asleep.
His breathing had evened out. The Young Master was asleep.
Han Soeun crouched beside the bed, staring endlessly at his sleeping face. He was beautiful. Like a masterpiece crafted by the world itself. But what captivated her even more than his appearance was the aura he radiated.
Unlike the people who had treated her like trash, he had thrown down a billion won without hesitation. The look in his eyes when he saw her scarred arms and grew angry on her behalf. And just moments ago, the voice that had gripped her trembling hand and declared that no one would ever touch her again.
Young Master...
Han Soeun reached out as if in a trance. She wanted to touch his hair. But just before her fingertips made contact, she snatched her hand back. How dare I? I'm nothing but an expensive object he happened to pick up.
Instead, she gently grasped the edge of the blanket covering him. That alone was enough. The feeling of connection.
He called me a diamond. He said I had value. Then she had to prove it. She had to become so useful that he would never cast her aside in disappointment. No—she had to become so indispensable that he couldn't function without her.
Han Soeun's eyes darkened in the shadows. Her mind was already filling with plans for Lee Dohyun. Magic? She would learn it with everything she had. Cleaning? Cooking? Laundry? She would do it all herself instead of leaving it to the maids. She would manage every aspect of his daily life.
All the Young Master needs by his side... is me.
She repeated the vow to herself all night long. Until dawn broke, she never once looked away, burning his sleeping face into her memory. It was the night obsession planted its seeds in fertile soil.
When morning came, the first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Han Soeun kneeling neatly beside the bed. She really hadn't slept. Far from looking tired, her eyes shone with fervent light.
"Did you sleep well, Young Master?"
"......Did you actually stay up all night?"
"Yes. I watched over you. Not a single mosquito got close. Hehe..."
She looked proud of herself. Staying up all night to catch mosquitoes? She certainly knew how to make thorough use of S-Class talent.
I sat up. As if she'd been waiting for it, Han Soeun immediately offered a damp towel and a glass of water. Her timing was perfect—the items were placed exactly where my hand would naturally reach.
This girl has serious supporter instincts. She wasn't just good in combat; her daily-life support skills were top-tier. The money felt well spent.
"Get ready. We're going to school."
"Yes...!"
Her face brightened, then quickly dimmed.
"But Young Master... I don't have a school uniform..."
"Ah, right."
I pressed the intercom.
"Butler Kim. Go to the department store right now and buy a full set of Daeseong Academy uniforms. Size... ask Han Soeun directly."
After giving the order, I looked at her.
"We'll handle the transfer procedures today. We'll go straight to the chairman's office, so don't be nervous."
"Yes. I'll trust only in you, Young Master."
"And."
I adjusted my tie and added casually.
"Don't get into any fights once we're there."
"Fights?"
"There's one other person I've invested in at that school."
Suddenly, Han Soeun's hands froze. The pajama shirt she'd been folding crumpled in her grip.
"......Another... investment?"
Her voice had dropped noticeably. It was different from the obedient tone she'd used moments before.
"Yeah. Her name's Seo Yoona. She's a sword user."
I tightened my tie while looking in the mirror, missing the expression on her face.
"I'm raising her too, just like you. She's practically one of my lifelines, so get along with her. It's a pain when party members fight each other."
Party members. Lifelines. Raising them.
Each word from Lee Dohyun's mouth stabbed into Han Soeun's chest. There was someone else? She wasn't the only special one? She'd thought she was the only diamond, but there was another jewel?
Jealousy. A black, poisonous mushroom of emotion bloomed instantly. She didn't know who this 'Seo Yoona' was, but the mere fact that she had to share the Young Master's attention was unforgivable.
Yet Han Soeun hid her expression. The Young Master had ordered her to 'get along.' She couldn't disobey his command. She had to be a good girl. Only then would she avoid being abandoned.
"Yes, Young Master."
Han Soeun smiled brightly. But behind that smile hid a chilling blade.
"I'll get along with her... very, very well. Since she's someone you cherish."
Of course, whether her definition of 'getting along' matched his was another matter entirely.