A heavy silence enveloped the room. Ryu Cheong looked at her, seemingly waiting for a reaction, but Irel just calmly listened outside.
“It's raining.”
Tick, tick, tick.
The sound of rain falling on the curved tile roof and paper door is quite loud. But if she listened more closely, she could hear:
The sound of small waves pounding the shore endlessly,
noisy
.
“This is an inn located at the harbor.”
Irel quickly realized Ryu Cheong's lie. Just think a little and it will be easy.
‘It is impossible to reach the Eastern Continent in just two and a half days.’
Perhaps Ryu Cheong said that half to test her, and the other half to make her give up. But her soul, forged in the fiercely competitive society of the Republic of Korea, is not easily subdued.
"From what I remember from our encounter in the garden, you're not the type to mess around. Surely it's because of the rain that you haven't been able to anchor yet. Is that right?"
“…”
Ryu Cheong did not answer. His dignified profile under the light looked like a scholar, but contrary to his appearance, he was a determined and bold person.
‘So, as soon as he caught me, he planned to immediately go to the Eastern Continent.’
If the weather cooperates. But Varkan seems to have sold his soul to the devil, even the weather is on that villain's side.
Oh! Bang!!
Thunder rang out just in time outside the window. After that loud noise, a short silence passed.
“Receiver… what a mysterious person.”
Ryu Cheong rubbed his eyelids with his fingers and slowly spoke. In the room that was dark because of the rain, his eyes received the flickering light from the lamp, shining an unusual red color.
“Even though he looks weak, his will is steadfast.”
From his footsteps, a faint scent of ink and sandalwood wafted in.
“Innocent face, but extremely smart inside.”
Ryu Cheong had already arrived in front of her. He bowed his head in an elegant manner and placed one hand on his chest. Then kneel down on one knee in front of the bed.
“Even though it's a headache…”
Why, he doesn't hate those things at all.
Ryu Cheong whispered, looking up at her with deep eyes. That gentle voice gave the feeling of an ocean about to erupt into a storm.
[Ting! Ryu Cheong's favorability increased by 10 points.]
With the sound of increased sympathy, Ryu Cheong held out a hand.
"I confess frankly, I am attracted to you. Not only because you are a Receiver, but also because of who you are."
Surprised by the confession, Irel was a bit confused. She habitually checked the favorability index, and found it had passed 70, warming to a warm peach color.
"My heart only has one, it cannot hold two lovers. If you take my hand, I swear there will never be anyone else for the rest of my life."
It was a sweet confession but also had a sour taste, like an underripe plum. She lowered her head and saw that the steady fingers he held out were shaking slightly.
"Dear Receiver... no, Miss Irel knows that too. That man is not the right choice."
The additional words sounded a bit painful, I don't know if it was because she thought too much. But it was that voice that brought Irel back to his senses.
‘Ah, Varkan. I almost forgot about him.'
Irel did not know what thoughts that deviant man lived in the world, and why he wanted to overthrow the kingdom. But she was certain that if Varkan were here right now, Ryu Cheong would die.
That's for sure.
Thinking of that, Irel shivered for no reason. Although this was not a situation she intentionally created, she felt like a concubine who was having an affair.
Because of that, she was completely unable to focus on Ryu Cheong's confession. Even if Varkan was a talented villain, he wouldn't be able to catch up here so quickly.
Thinking that, Irel unintentionally glanced around the room. And she found out. Yan Luis's semi-transparent head was poking out from a wall.
…Why did he appear there?
‘Shh.’
When he made eye contact with Irel, Yan Luis put his finger on his lips, signaling silence. It was a useless action, because Irel had no intention of making any noise.
The simple reason is because the situation is so stupid.
‘Just like a hellish ghost.’
With a bewildered expression, he appeared everywhere again. However, the discovery of Yan Luis is a good sign. That meant Varkan was watching her moves.
Irel felt deeply relieved by that fact. Then she looked around the room with pity in her eyes.
Goodbye, beautiful room. Goodbye, Eastern Continental silks, beds and mattresses. You are about to turn into ashes.
‘And so is this man…’
Irel's eyes looked at Ryu Cheong full of pity, causing one of his eyebrows to raise. Not understanding the reason, he misunderstood that Irel reacted like that because of his confession.
“You don't have to look at me with those eyes.”
Ryu Cheong clasped his hands in front of his chest and declared. He was so focused on his emotions that he didn't notice the presence of Yan Luis sticking out halfway behind him.
"My heart is like a solid pine tree, patient and not easily shaken. Therefore..."
“I'm sorry.”
Unfortunately, she was completely unable to concentrate on his confession. So, Irel sighed and spoke as gently as possible.
"I know you are a person of rare promise, Ryu Cheong. I am also very grateful for saving me from Vlad. Perhaps following you, I will have a fulfilling life. Because you are the one who has the ability to do that."
Right at that moment. Something sparkled in her hair, and an ill-timed system notification sounded.
[Ting! The item possessing 'Moonlight Nightingale Hairpin' has its effect activated. The effectiveness of the compliment you just said increases by 80%.]
[Ting! Ryu Cheong's favorability increased by 3 points.]
…What's with this crazy hair clip? Irel is creating a premise to reject Ryu Cheong's confession, feeling unreasonable.
‘Please understand this a bit!’
Without revealing it, she used her palm to lightly tap the hairpin attached to her head. Then quickly continued speaking before Ryu Cheong looked at her with strange eyes.
"But I can't follow you. Because I already have the Masaka of my life."
“Miss Irel can always choose again. Someone better, not that thug…”
“He, is my choice.”
No matter how articulate Ryu Cheong was, he was at a loss for words at this moment. He bit his lip because he didn't know what to do, but still didn't take his eyes off Irel.
Her skin under the warm light was creamy, her eyelashes drooped, and her thin shoulders looked fragile as if they would break. But the lips that rejected him were sharp as if painted, and the chin was slightly raised, slender but determined.
Ah, who said it? Something that cannot be had is even more attractive.
In the damp air from the rain, a sweet scent wafted towards him. A scent that made the painful flow of blood subside, and the often heavy headache also disappeared.
Ryu Cheong closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Even though he looked peaceful, he was also a Masaka, and he couldn't let this Receiver that was within reach leave.
Absolutely not.
“Sorry, Miss Irel.”
Of course it is. Irel sat on the bed, looking at Ryu Cheong with calm eyes. Ryu Cheong knelt on one knee in front of her, reaching out to touch the pretty little white silk stocking on her foot.
The hand gently caressed the foot, as if sketching an outline on smooth silk fabric, then grasped the slender ankle. And just as he carefully pulled the end of the silk stocking to take it off.
“Aaaa!!”
“Fire, house fire!!”
“Someone help me!”
At the same time, a simultaneous commotion rang out outside, as if it had been pre-arranged. Ryu Cheong raised his head, reflexively wanting to check Irel's expression.
But Irel's beautiful blue eyes were not looking at him. At this moment, the direction she looked back was a completely different direction.
Phew!
Suddenly a heavy crash sounded, then Ryu Cheong collapsed. Unfortunately, he was hit in the back of the head, staggered forward and hit his forehead on the bed right under Irel's feet. Thanks to that double blow, he passed out without even making a sound.
“Phew.”
Yan Luis, holding one leg of the small wooden table, breathed a sigh of relief. As a special type Masaka, he has absolutely no talent for fighting.
But he cannot stand by and watch someone else touch Irel, the person who will become his wife. Yan Luis sighed deeply and threw the wooden table leg to the ground.
Now, he must get Irel out as quickly as possible. Before Varkan burned down this entire inn.
‘Say that again, damn it.’
Varkan was obviously furious when he heard that Irel had been kidnapped. Thanks to that, the subordinates guarding around Irel at that time, including Chellos, all suffered broken teeth or slightly cracked skulls.
Yan Luis was almost among them, but luckily he was on the right path. He has no knack for fighting, but he can completely erase traces of his breath. Therefore, as soon as he confirmed that Irel was kidnapped, he immediately followed her.
It can be called a strategy
‘Địa tạng linh’
perhaps? He is always by Irel's side and reports to Varkan every hour. Thanks to that, he was the only one among those in charge at the scene to be exonerated.
But the consolation was only fleeting. His face turned pale as he checked the orders from Varkan.
— Midnight, begins.
The scribbled note had only two words. But Yan Luis, who has served Varkan for a long time, knows well.
His master plans to raze this inn, leaving not a single tile or stone wall behind.