Editor: VCubed
Chapter 94
—
The next morning.
The sunlight pierced through her eyelids intensely, and Yerin slowly lifted her eyelids.
“Ugh….”
A long groan escaped her lips.
The hangover was so severe, it felt like someone was pounding on her head with a hammer.
“Ugh, I really should drink less.”
Yerin grimaced as she got up from bed.
Looking around, she realized she was in an unfamiliar room.
The spacious room was furnished with luxurious furniture, and even the bedding was soft.
Yerin furrowed her brows.
“Hmm, this doesn’t seem like the Murim Alliance.”
The Murim Alliance had a tradition of seeking simplicity, even in front of others, to demonstrate humility.
This place looked more like a high-end inn….
“Where’s Doyul?”
Come to think of it, Doyul wasn’t there.
Yerin sighed and staggered towards the door.
She needed to call someone to figure out what was going on.
“Ugh.”
Yerin sighed deeply.
“I really can’t handle my alcohol anymore.”
Suddenly, a poignant realization washed over her.
Just a bottle of alcohol had made her this drunk.
Back in the days when she was Baek Seol-ryeon!
That stuff was nothing but water!
But back then…
Click!
The door opened abruptly.
“… My Lord?”
Yerin stared blankly at the young man who entered through the door.
It was Doyul.
He was holding a tray with a teacup on it.
“Are you alright? You seemed a bit drunk yesterday.”
“Ah, yeah…”
…Why do I always get so drunk when I drink with Doyul?
Yerin pondered her life deeply.
At that moment, Doyul handed her the teacup.
“Here, drink this.”
“What is this…?”
“It’s honey water.”
Honey water!
A spark returned to Yerin’s dead-fish-like eyes.
She eagerly gulped down the honey water.
“Ah.”
Yerin exhaled deeply.
As the sweet and lukewarm liquid flowed into her body, she finally felt a bit alive.
But…
‘Why is Doyul acting like this?’
Yerin tilted her head slightly in confusion.
Doyul subtly glanced at Yerin, gauging her reaction.
“Why are you like this?” Yerin asked, puzzled.
At that question, Doyul was taken aback and looked at her directly.
“Um…,” Doyul hesitated, his lips faltering several times.
He seemed to have something to say, but the words just wouldn’t come out.
After a moment, Doyul opened his mouth with determination.
“Do you remember what happened yesterday?” he asked firmly.
“…,” Yerin fell silent.
As soon as Doyul asked, fragments of memories began to resurface in her mind.
The kiss under the moonlight, the slightly intimate touches, and the sweet sensations that shook her entire body…
And then, “Do you love me?”
Oh my god, what was I thinking! How could I have been so confident without any basis!
Yerin wished she could go back and stop herself from saying those words.
Even though she hadn’t completely crossed the line, it was still a secluded lake with no one around!
Outside, someone could have seen…!
‘What should I do!’ Yerin chewed on her lips, feeling lost.
“You remember,” Doyul’s firm voice brought Yerin back to reality.
He was looking at her with a steady gaze.
“Do you regret it?” he asked.
Doyul seemed calm on the surface, but Yerin could tell he was extremely tense.
And it was understandable.
‘Oh no.’
Yerin noticed that she was gripping her clothes tightly, causing the fabric to wrinkle.
But Doyul didn’t seem to realize he was doing the same.
“That can’t be.” Yerin shook her head.
At the same time, Doyul’s grip on his clothes loosened.
“And why did you call me ‘My lord’ again this time?” he asked abruptly.
“What?”
“Yesterday, you called me Doyul.”
“…,” Oh, right.
Caught up in the atmosphere, I…
Blushing, Yerin tried to hide her embarrassment by lowering her gaze.
“So, Doyul… do you regret what happened yesterday?”
“Do you think I would?”
Then Doyul exclaimed with surprise, “Yesterday, I was the happiest person in the world.”
“Is that so?” Yerin responded.
“That’s right,” Doyul confirmed.
Well, that’s a relief.
Yerin closed her eyes tightly.
But this atmosphere was too awkward…
‘What should I say?’ It felt like they were a newlywed couple spending their first night together!
‘I can’t stay like this.’
Yerin felt suffocated with embarrassment.
To dispel the awkward air, Yerin hastily spoke up, “So, where are we…”
But right at that moment…
“Bark!!”
A sharp bark echoed through the room.
Simultaneously, the Millennium Ice Crystal burst into the room, barking frantically.
– How dare you spend a night elsewhere without me!
Bark! Bark!
– You dare not stay by my side, even though you are my contractor!
Bark! Bark! Bark!
– How could such an inappropriate situation occur!
Bark! Bark! Bark! Bark!
The Millennium Ice Crystal stood on its hind legs, raising its head high and glaring at Yerin.
Yerin squinted her eyes.
“Well, you seem quite well for something like that.”
– What did you say!
“You seem to be in good shape.”
Of course, because the Millennium Ice Crystal’s mouth was covered in greasy meat juices.
Yerin asked nonchalantly, “Did Youngju treat you well?”
Flustered, the Millennium Ice Crystal froze in place.
– Th-there’s no way that happened!
After a moment, the Millennium Ice Crystal attempted to defend itself.
– I suffered great emotional trauma waiting for the contract holder who never returned…
But the Millennium Ice Crystal couldn’t finish its defense.
“No, Som!”
Lady Youngju rushed into the room behind the Millennium Ice Crystal.
“You, really! What if your sister was still asleep! What then?” Lady Youngju scolded the Millennium Ice Crystal, only to realize that Yerin was awake.
“Sister, you’re awake?”
“Yeah, um.”
Yerin quickly nodded her head.
It was better that Lady Youngju had interrupted. The situation with Doyul had been quite awkward.
“Where are we?”
“Oh, this is an inn owned by our family.”
Lady Youngju replied hesitantly.
With that answer, Yerin suddenly remembered.
Ah, that’s right.
Our protagonist was one of the wealthiest girls even in Hangzhou…
“Yesterday, you seemed a bit intoxicated, so I asked them to bring you here,” Lady Youngju explained.
Tsk tsk.
– Probably not just “a little,” but “tremendously,” I suppose.
The Millennium Ice Crystal grumbled as if expecting to be heard.
Yerin opened her eyes and shot a glare at the Millennium Ice Crystal.
‘This guy’
Just then, Lady Youngju smiled brightly.
“So, did you have a comfortable night’s sleep?”
“I slept very well. Thank you.”
Alright, let’s just act normal for now.
Yerin nodded, trying to suppress her embarrassment.
Lady Youngju glanced at Doyul.
“Lord, shouldn’t you have kept an eye on Lady Yerin to make sure she didn’t drink too much?”
“…”
Normally, Doyul would have had a retort ready for such remarks from Lady Youngju, but this time he remained silent.
Was that all?
He seemed to be avoiding eye contact rather stealthily!
‘Is he really feeling guilty?’
In her confusion, Yerin quickly interjected into the conversation.
“No, it’s not Doyul’s fault…”
But just then…
“Lady Youngju.”
Someone was looking for Lady Youngju.
Lady Youngju leaned her head out of the door with a puzzled expression.
“What’s the matter?”
The servant standing outside the room quickly bowed to Lady Youngju.
“A guest has arrived.”
“A guest? Do we really need to go out to greet them?”
“Yes. The Master Ha-seong is receiving them personally, and they’re waiting for the Lord and Lady Yerin.”
“…Father?”
Lady Youngju’s surprised expression said it all.
If even Master Jo Ha-seong himself was personally receiving them, the guests who had arrived this time were likely significant figures.
“So, who are these guests?”
“The eldest son of the Seo Clan, Lady Seo Hwaryeon, and…”
The servant glanced at Yerin cautiously.
“The head of the Dang Clan”
What?
Yerin’s expression hardened instantly.
—
Yerin quickly washed herself and used her inner strength to cleanse her body of any toxins.
Then, she headed towards the front hall where Jo Ha-seong was personally entertaining the guests.
The first person she saw was Seo Hwaryeon.
With Master Jo Ha-seong and Lady Youngju, as well as renowned experts from the Gangho, by her side, it seemed that they were significant figures.
Hwaryeon had a tense expression on her face.
“Ah.”
As Yerin and Hwaryeon locked eyes, Hwaryeon’s face twisted in confusion.
Just then, Jo Ha-seong pretended to just recognize the three people.
“Lady Yerin, and Lord Doyul. The young lady is here too.”
“Nice to see you again, Master Ha-seong.”
Yerin greeted first.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes. Thanks to the comfortable room you provided.”
Doyul replied politely.
Jo Ha-seong nodded and began to introduce the guests one by one.
“On this side is the first son of the Seo Clan, Seo Pyeong-oh. And on this side is Lady Seo Hwaryeon.”
“Yes, we met yesterday.”
Yerin smiled brightly.
Hwaryeon stiffened her shoulders and turned her head sharply, as if ignoring them.
“And as you know, this is…”
“It’s good to see you again. Lady Yerin, it’s good to see you too.”
Master Dang greeted Yerin and Doyul with a snake-like smile.
“I’m also glad to meet you again.”
Doyul replied first with a somewhat uncomfortable expression, and…
Yerin, who had been silently staring at the head of the Dang Clan , also greeted him properly.
“Nice to see you again, Father.”
“Yeah.”
Master Dang nodded leisurely.
With that conversation, a chilly atmosphere settled between the father and daughter.
