Chapter 181
The first day of the social gathering doesn’t have any significant schedule. The only official event is the opening banquet held at Hwayangkwan in the evening.
Though Jin Yeseo was from one of the Five Families, she mentioned that she, as a first-year, wouldn’t be hosting any small group meetings. She also had no plans to participate in the tournament tomorrow.
“So, in conclusion, we just have to have fun.”
Jin Yeseo’s voice, walking side by side with me, was full of cheerfulness.
“During the day, we show ourselves enjoying the social gathering like this, and in the evening, we enter the opening banquet as partners. How does that sound? Doesn’t that make us look like the perfect couple to anyone?”
“Well, it does, but…”
“It’s a perfect plan, even if I say so myself. Oh, and there’s a place we absolutely must visit today. A street stall selling Cloud Candy, a Doll Claw Machine, the Latest Blade demonstration hall, and, and…”
“…”
Is this really just an act? For something that’s supposed to be an act, the schedule seems unusually packed. And it’s all tailored to her preferences…
Jin Yeseo, who had been chatting excitedly for quite some time, abruptly stopped as if something had struck her. She then suddenly changed her demeanor and began to gauge my reaction.
“Ahem. Of course, we mustn’t forget to act like a couple.”
Before I knew it, Jin Yeseo sidled up to me and firmly linked her arm with mine. Through the arm that touched hers, I could feel the lukewarm warmth and a slight weight.
“Don’t forget. Today, you’re mine. My… boyfriend.”
She spoke deliberately, as if to emphasize, without even looking at me.
***
A promise is a promise. Especially if it’s a promise with a friend in trouble.
That’s why, even without Jin Yeseo’s insistence, I had already resolved to give it my all today.
Regardless of my determination, Jin Yeseo also seemed to be pouring all her effort into the act. Given that her future was at stake, it was only natural…
The problem was that the direction of her efforts seemed slightly off.
“Hey, look at that!”
“Now what…!”
Jin Yeseo, who was walking ahead, tightly grabbed my hand and pulled me along. Even after visiting over twenty street stalls, she didn’t break a sweat, which was nothing short of astonishing.
“Dart Throwing! If you get first place, the prize is Ice Cream! Let’s go quickly!”
“Wait a minute…”
Earlier, I had my doubts, but now I was certain. The girl with the yellow hair was using the act as an excuse to fully immerse herself in enjoying the social gathering. Otherwise, there’s no way to explain that radiant smile.
Well, not that I mind. She seems to be enjoying herself so much. Genuine joy only adds credibility to our ‘relationship.’
“…”
The pure image of a girl enjoying the festival, forgetting all responsibilities and obligations. Before I knew it, that image was pulling me back into the depths of my memories.
-Hyun! Hurry up…!
-Yeon, you’ll get hurt if you keep running like that…
My ears felt muffled, as if they were filled with water. Before I realized it, I was no longer at the dazzling banquet but in a shabby pioneer village on the outskirts.
Every year, the villagers decorated the cramped plaza with string lights and flags, turning it into a makeshift festival.
There was no Cloud Candy or Magic Demonstration, just a gathering of a few dozen residents enjoying what barely qualified as a festival.
Looking back, I never particularly liked festivals as a child. How could I enjoy a festival with kids who teased me as an Apathetic Person every single day and picked fights?
-What’s that? What’s that?
-That?
-I’ve never seen anything like this…!
The small, pale fingers that used to pull me along.
-Wow… It’s delicious…!
-Come on, try it. I’ll feed you…!
-Hehe, this is my first time…! We’ll have it again next year, right? Promise me, okay?
-Really? You promise…?
The swaying black hair brushed past my eyes. A voice dripping with kindness seeped into my ears.
A girl who was small and frail, born with an incurable disease that confined her for life. Because of that, even the tiny festivals in the middle of nowhere were overwhelming stimuli for her.
Had it not been for her, I probably would have continued disliking festivals. But back then, I think I somewhat enjoyed them.
Of course, now… it’s all meaningless.
“Hey!”
Just as I was sinking deeper into the well of memories.
A voice, brimming with disappointment, snapped me back to reality.
“…?”
Jin Yeseo was glaring at me, holding two cones of Ice Cream in her hands.
“Are you not going to act properly? What if someone catches on because of you? Will you take responsibility?”
“…Says the person who left me behind.”
“W-What was I supposed to do when I was already in line! Here, take this!”
Jin Yeseo shoved the Ice Cream at me with a sharp motion. It seemed she had managed to get first place in Dart Throwing after all.
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”
“…Hmph.”
Despite her petulant tone, her face was brimming with satisfaction. Jin Yeseo’s exploration of the social gathering continued even after we finished the Ice Cream.
The opportunity she had been eagerly waiting for, to widely announce the existence of her ‘beloved partner,’ came sooner than expected.
“Yeseo!”
“Guys!”
“Having fun?”
A group of female students waved enthusiastically as they approached. Each wore a peculiar mask, but it was clear they were Jin Yeseo’s friends.
I recognized one of them. She was the cynical-looking girl who had provided information about Jin Yeseo as thanks for being saved in the South.
Her name was Haewon, if I recalled correctly. Unlike the other girls, who were busy chatting, she sent me a subtle, scrutinizing gaze.
Surely she doesn’t recognize me… right?
“And who might this be next to you…?”
“Could it be…?”
After exchanging a flurry of casual chatter, the girls finally broached the topic they had been dying to address. Their voices were brimming with barely concealed excitement. It was clear they had been itching to ask about my identity.
Standing beside me, Jin Yeseo lightly scratched my back, giving me an unspoken signal. We had already discussed such situations in advance.
-Just stand there quietly. I’ll handle the rest.
I signaled back with a slight nod to show I remembered. But that wasn’t what Jin Yeseo had intended.
Her green eyes briefly flashed with dissatisfaction, and then she shifted her weight to lean entirely against me.
We were now practically pressed together.
“Ahem, everyone. Let me introduce you. This is the person I’m dating…”
“Oh my gosh…!”
“I knew it!”
But before Jin Yeseo could finish her sentence.
The girls erupted into high-pitched screams, sounding like the dying wails of mythical beasts.
“Wow, wow…! I had a feeling, but still…!”
“See! I told you I saw them together at the plaza earlier! But no one ever believes me…”
“What is this…? Yeseo has finally…”
Jin Yeseo blushed deeply, looking genuinely embarrassed, as the girls surrounded us and launched an onslaught of questions.
Which family was I from, how old was I, where did we meet—questions flooded in from every direction.
“He works at the Central Administration Bureau in the capital. He’s older than me…”
“We met by chance during an external mission…”
“His family is a secret. We haven’t officially announced our engagement yet… But soon…”
“We haven’t been dating for long. About 27 days…”
Yet Jin Yeseo answered each question without missing a beat. Her thorough preparation was nothing short of impressive.
Twenty-seven days, though. I wondered if it meant anything, then realized it was the day we first arrived at the First City and shared a lodging.
…Why that day, of all times? Did she just pick it arbitrarily?
“I confessed first, and… Oh, come on. We’re still students; it’s too early to talk about marriage…”
With a flushed face, Jin Yeseo continued to weave her web of lies with remarkable ease.
***
The girls’ interrogation lasted for tens of minutes before finally coming to an end.
“For some reason, you seem really familiar… Could you take off that mask for a moment—mmph!”
“Oh my, what are you saying! Didn’t Yeseo say it’s still a secret?”
“Sorry, Haewon can be a bit odd sometimes…”
“Anyway, we’ll be off now! Have fun with your fiancé!”
There was a brief moment of tension when Haewon’s suspicions nearly caused a problem, but thankfully, her friends intervened and diffused the situation before anything went awry.
“Phew…”
“Are you, are you exhausted? You’ve worked hard…”
Jin Yeseo spoke in a tone that trailed off, as if feeling sorry. Her face was still tinged with a deep blush.
“…As long as we’ve managed to get through it, it’s fine.”
It would be a lie to say it wasn’t difficult, but considering the purpose of today’s play, it wasn’t an entirely unpleasant experience.
Now, those female students would become seeds to spread rumors about Jin Yeseo and her mysterious fiancé throughout the academy.
With that, students like Chun Suho would no longer approach Jin Yeseo. After all, making advances on someone already engaged was tantamount to openly insulting them.
Thinking that Jin Yeseo had achieved what she wanted to some extent, I felt more at ease.
“It’s already this late…”
The sun was now setting in the west, casting its final glow across the surroundings. Jin Yeseo’s voice was tinged with regret as she looked at the scene.
“All that’s left now is the opening banquet, right?”
“That’s right. But we still have some time, so we can take a leisurely stroll on the way there… Huh?”
Not every encounter is a pleasant one.
Jin Yeseo, who had been walking with her arm linked to mine, suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her gaze was fixed on something across the street lined with stalls.
To be precise, it was on a pair of people—a couple. And the woman among them was someone I also recognized.
Moon Yeowool. A girl with a sharp expression who, despite being from a prestigious family, had always been overshadowed by Jin Yeseo. Once a fairly close friend, though now completely estranged.
Moon Yeowool was also staring in this direction with a sullen expression. Her fiancé, Seunghun, stood beside her with an awkward smile.
Conflicts between women are the kind of situations that are hard to intervene in. Especially in circumstances like this.
Perhaps Seunghun felt the same as I did.
Moon Yeowool, who had been glaring at Jin Yeseo, briefly glanced at me. And for the briefest moment, her gaze carried a clear hint of mockery.
However, the target of her derision didn’t seem to be me, but rather someone else. Moreover, unlike the other girls from earlier, Moon Yeowool didn’t seem particularly interested in Jin Yeseo’s supposed fiancé.
Even so, it was undeniably unpleasant. Why does Seunghun like someone so spiteful and arrogant? It didn’t even seem like their relationship was arranged for strategic purposes.
I really don’t get it…
“…”
After a brief standoff, the four of us seemed to silently agree to move on without creating a scene.
If no one intended to start a fight, leaving the area was the best option.
“Cut… Park…”
But as Jin Yeseo and Moon Yeowool brushed past each other, a faint noise reached my ears. At this, Jin Yeseo abruptly halted again.
“…What?”
“…”
Jin Yeseo didn’t respond. It was clear that some words had been exchanged between them. As soon as the noise was heard, Jin Yeseo hung her head low, as if something had deeply upset her.
“…Sorry. I need to touch up my makeup for a moment.”
It took a while before Jin Yeseo finally spoke.
“Wait, hold on—”
“I’ll be quick. Just wait here…!”
Leaving only those hurried words behind, she disappeared before I could react. I was left standing alone, bewildered.
“…”
What on earth did they say to each other to leave her so shaken that she couldn’t even speak properly?
My impression of Moon Yeowool only worsened. If she weren’t Seunghun’s fiancée, I might have punched her in the gut a few times.
But asking for permission for that… would be out of the question, wouldn’t it?
“Have you been waiting long?”
A voice suddenly called out, pulling me from my thoughts. Jin Yeseo had returned, waving her hand as she approached.
“You came back quickly. Are you okay?”
“…Yeah, I’m fine, I guess…?”
Jin Yeseo replied, sounding uncertain. It seemed she didn’t want to dwell on the earlier encounter. If that were the case, bringing it up to console her didn’t seem like a good idea.
“Let’s hurry up and go. What if we’re late for the banquet?”
Jin Yeseo, now standing beside me, naturally slipped her arm through mine, as if it were the most familiar thing in the world.
“…?”
For some reason, the weight of her soft skin pressing against my arm felt heavier than before.
Have I grown a bit fatigued from today’s events…?
“What’s wrong?”
Noticing my gaze, Jin Yeseo tilted her head in confusion.
“…It’s nothing. But did you suddenly get taller?”
“Huh? Oh, I switched to heels. See?”
Jin Yeseo casually tapped her foot, showing off the high heels she now wore. They were noticeably taller than the shoes she had on earlier. It seemed she had changed them in preparation for the banquet.
Even accounting for the increased height of her heels, she still seemed taller than before. Was it just a difference between seeing and feeling it firsthand?
“Walking while being this close is a bit tricky…”
“You’re my fiancé. So what?”
With Jin Yeseo clinging tightly to my arm, I began walking toward Hwayangkwan.
***
“Phew…”
Jin Yeseo faced the mirror in the powder room, her face flushed red. Rather than looking humiliated or shamed, she appeared almost feverishly heated.
“That was close…”
She had rushed away without even realizing it, afraid that he might see her in this state.
-Didn’t you say you hated men? Have you changed your mind?
-You once called me a vulgar and promiscuous beast… Ha.
“…”
The words Moon Yeowool whispered as she walked away were unmistakably filled with mockery.
What made it sting even more was that those words were ones Jin Yeseo herself had once said in the past.
Moon Yeowool had simply thrown them back at her.
“Vulgar and promiscuous…”
The intention was clear. To make her feel disgrace and humiliation.
But right now, Jin Yeseo was experiencing a completely different emotion. One that left her confused and flustered.
Far from feeling humiliated, she didn’t feel bad at all…
“Why… Why doesn’t it feel bad…?”
Jin Yeseo stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes half-closed. Then, as if trying to shake off her thoughts, she vigorously shook her head. Her eyes widened with a renewed determination.
“Get a grip, Jin Yeseo. It’s not over yet…”
There were two objectives for today. The first was to display her closeness with him in front of the family observers. The second was to prevent Baek Seoyeon from acting on any improper intentions before she could cause trouble.
So far, everything had gone smoothly. But the most critical part was still ahead.
The evening festival, the banquet that would stretch late into the night, the intoxicating drinks and sweet delicacies that could cloud one’s judgment.
“…I can do this. I prepared thoroughly. It’s different from last time. I’ve sorted everything out…”
Jin Yeseo steeled herself like a pilgrim carrying a sacred mission. In truth, she was more like a martyr. She was willing to sacrifice herself if it meant saving Baek Seoyeon.
“…I can do this.”
She murmured to herself, adjusting her appearance one last time. She smoothed her hair and unbuttoned her collar slightly to reveal her collarbone. Then, she sprayed herself with the special perfume she had purchased from the secret shop.
After taking a deep breath, Jin Yeseo finally stepped out of the powder room, heading toward where the man was waiting.
“Sorry for making you wait so long… huh?”
But Jin Yeseo let out a puzzled voice without realizing it.
The tall man wearing the lion mask was nowhere to be seen.