‘It was better when it was just us.’

Wasn't it too obvious for us to meet just like this?

It was also clear that Lee Ji-Hye had come here to interrupt them.

‘Look at her gritting her teeth.’

I was curious as to why she had come all the way here, but I knew she had something in mind when I saw her pout.

She was in the monitoring room earlier, so I believed Elias had said something that struck a nerve before Ha-Yan and I made it here. I had no idea why she even bothered bringing Han Sora here… Actually, there wasn't any reason for her to bring Han Sora here, so perhaps…

‘She just brought her with her because she was around.’

It was highly likely that she simply dragged Han Sora, who was following Jung Ha-Yan, here. The problem was it

had

to be Han Sora.

When Lee Ji-Hye and Han Sora walked in here, I saw Jung Ha-Yan biting her lips. Her hands were shaking, and she looked as if she had been betrayed.

Jung Ha-Yan looked at Han Sora as if she was asking the latter how she could do something like this to her. Jung Ha-Yan looked as if she were going to cry any time soon and break the table before us.

Han Sora looked anxious as if she had just committed a crime.

I was sure she was worried that the Park Mijin incident that happened a long time ago was going to happen again. To the public, Han Sora looked as if she had no friends except for Jung Ha-Yan.

They only had each other, and it was implicitly forbidden for them to go out with other friends and spend time with them.

Han Sora had clearly told Jung Ha-Yan that she'd be nearby, but she suddenly came in here with Lee Ji-Hye, so I was sure Jung Ha-Yan was disappointed.

“M-Miss Jung Ha-Yan, I can explain,” Han Sora said.

“...”

“I’ll. Explain everything. M-Miss Jung Ha-Yan. So…” Han Sora stammered.

“L-Let go of me…

Eek!

Let go…” Jung Ha-Yan stuttered.

“Miss Jung Ha-Yan, please hear me out,” Han Sora begged.

Meanwhile…

“Miss Ji-Hye? Why… are you…”

“I was hanging out nearby with Miss Sora. We were actually shopping when we saw you and Father Lee Ki-Young. It seemed like you were together… so I decided to join you, despite knowing that it’s going to be rude. It’s okay if I join you, right?” Lee Ji-Hye asked. 𝘳

“What? Well, I…”

“I didn't interrupt your good time, right? Mr. Elias? I feel bad now,” Lee Ji-Hye added.

‘She doesn’t look like she feels bad at all.’

It wasn’t my place to say this, but Lee Ji-Hye was the very definition of "shameless." It was clear that she was acting like someone incapable of reading the room. Lee Ji-Hye had to be aware of that fact, but she couldn't care less and pressed on.

“

Ah

… sure. It’s fine, Miss Lee Ji-Hye,” Elias answered.

Why?

‘Because Elias will never be able to say no.’

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

It wouldn’t make sense for him to say no here.

I was sure Elias was aware that Lee Ji-Hye, Jo Hye-Jin, and I were close.

Since he had spent a lot of time with our Hye-Jin, the latter had to have talked about us once or twice. Hye-Jin had to have told him that I was her closest friend as well, while Lee Ji-Hye was her second closest friend.

Regardless of the topic of their conversation and where they were located, Jo Hye-Jin would most likely talk about the people around her.

Anyway, it was common sense to try to impress your crush’s friends.

It was reasonable to accept Lee Ji-Hye and me rather than get rid of us because today was his one and only chance to make a big move.

More importantly, we had never really been able to meet personally these days, so Elias had to have thought that this was the perfect chance to do so. During our last meeting, he tried really hard to earn some brownie points, so I was sure he'd do the same again.

Jo Hye-Jin finally said, “Mr. Elias and I… aren’t a couple yet. More importantly, don’t you think it’s rude to Mr. Elias… to just show up like this?”

“Oh my. Miss Sora and I aren’t close either, so that’s why I’m suggesting we hang out. And Mr. Elias said that he's fine with it. Isn’t that right, Mr. Elias?” Lee Ji-Hye asked.

“I’m fine, but the sub guild master…”

Of course, I had to show a positive attitude.

“I think it’ll be great as well. It’s been a while since we spent time like this… so Miss Ji-Hye and Miss Sora should join us as well,” I suggested.

“How can we say no to the sub guild master of the Blue Guild? I know it’s rude, but we’ll take a seat. Sit here, Miss Sora,” Lee Ji-Hye said.

“

Huh?

Okay, one second…” Han Sora said.

‘I’m sure she never dreamed that something like this would end up happening to her one morning.’

“What’s good here?

Oh

, isn’t this your favorite, Miss Ji-Hye?” Han Sora asked.

“What?”

“Why are you eating something else? Let’s share,” Han Sora suggested.

“

Ah

… sure.”

‘I also never dreamed that something like this would end up happening one morning.’

“W-What are you going to eat, Oppa?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.

“What do you want to eat, Ha-Yan?” I asked.

“I-I-I’m fine with anything a-a-as long as it’s not a lunchbox made by the traitor,” Jung Ha-Yan replied.

‘I never dreamt that things would turn out like this, damn it.’

“Miss Jung Ha-Yan… I…”

Han Sora moved her chair toward Jung Ha-Yan, and Lee Ji-Hye moved closer to Jo Hye-Jin. The word "chaos" was not enough to describe the ongoing crisis at the table.

‘I should fix this.’

“Miss Sora must’ve wanted to hang out with you seeing that she brought Miss Ji-Hye here, Ha-Yan,” I said.

“What? S-Sora did?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.

“H-He’s right, Miss Jung Ha-Yan. I was just worried about you,” Han Sora chimed in.

“R-R-Really?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.

“I’m not that close to Miss Lee Ji-Hye… and we never met in private. It was a lie when she said we went shopping. I promised… to go shopping with you… so there’s no way I’d forget, right?” Han Sora added.

“

Ah

… I-I see…"

“Also… you’re my only friend, Miss Jung Ha-Yan,” Han Sora said.

‘You have many connections. I saw how popular you were at the social gathering.’

“I don’t even have enough time to hang out with you, Miss Jung Ha-Yan…” Han Sora remarked.

“R-Right? I knew you wouldn’t betray me, Sora…” Jung Ha-Yan said.

Han Sora had successfully made Jung Ha-Yan feel happy, and I felt good to see them chat happily among themselves.

“Try this too, Miss Jung Ha-Yan,” Han Sora said.

“Okay… O-Oppa, have some of this as well. I-I’ll give you some as well, Sora,” Jung Ha-Yan offered.

“Really?” Han Sora asked.

“Yeah.”

‘Ha-Yan looks really happy.’

Her mouth was full of food, but she was smiling nonstop.

“O-O-Oppa, wouldn’t it be nice if we lived like this even after marriage?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.

“You’re right,” I replied.

“S-S-Sora can live in the room next to us,” Jung Ha-Yan suggested.

‘She suggested the house next to us not too long ago, and now she’s suggesting the room next to ours. At this rate, she might let her live in our bedroom.’

“I would love that since you’ll need someone to look after Sera,” Han Sora said.

“

Ah!

R-Right. There's also Sera. Oppa, Sera will come here tomorrow, right?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.

“Yeah. He’ll probably come here with Dialugia… Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I saw Sera…” I answered.

“

Oh

, r-right! Y-You haven’t seen Sera in a while. O-Our Sera has been working hard these days. H-He’s also been doing well in his studies,” Jung Ha-Yan informed me.

“Really?”

“Yes. H-He wasn’t a dummy, after all. I-I’m glad,” she said.

‘Is she complimenting him or insulting him?’

“Sera really enjoyed… visiting Laios with you. I hope we can go there together again,” Jung Ha-Yan said.

“We can always go again now that we have more time. We’re going to go on a trip again when the kids arrive tomorrow,” I told her.

"

Hehe.

I really wish that every day is like today,” Jung Ha-Yan added.

Today wasn't

that

special, but my heart trembled when I saw her excitement. Eating breakfast together, talking about the past and the things we need to do moving forward, worrying about the future, laughing together, and having fun together were so normal that I was surprised to hear her say that.

‘Have we been too busy these days? I feel like we've only been looking forward.’

Jung Ha-Yan had been waiting for moments like this since she was on Earth, so I was sure that moments like those were meaningful to her. Even in my eyes, we looked pretty close to being the ideal family.

‘Compared to us, it’s hell over there.’

Our tables were together, but the atmosphere between the two sides was completely different. It was like they were holding an interview.

I heard a voice as cold as ice, and it was coming from Lee Ji-Hye. “I've heard about you from Miss Hye-Jin, Mr. Elias. She said you’re a pure, upright, and strong man."

“

Ah

, really?” Elias asked.

“Yes.”

“I don’t really know what kind of person you are, Mr. Elias… but I heard that you two meet from time to time. I also heard that you’ve been… really trying to woo over our Hye-Jin…” she added.

“

Haha…ha…

” Elias laughed.

“As Miss Hye-Jin’s best friend, I’m worried about many things. I know you’re really famous, and everyone on the continent basically knows you, but as you know, our Hye-Jin is a bit…” Lee Ji-Hye paused.

“Miss Ji-Hye… you can… stop now…” Jo Hye-Jin mumbled.

“I don't really mind it if you aren't planning on dating her seriously, but I discovered that she could end up being the Queen of the Elf Kingdom. And I’m not trying to be racist here or anything, but there's a huge difference between elves and humans.

"The main problem is her lifespan; your lifestyles are very different as well. Were you aware of those differences… and had you actually thought about them before wooing her?” Lee Ji-Hye questioned him.

‘You’re taking this too far, noona. Calm down. You shouldn’t be acting like that right away.’

“If you’re really trying to win her heart and have a future with her, don’t you have a lot to think about? Of course, you two

do

look good together…” Lee Ji-Hye said.

“...”

“Also, I’m sorry for bringing this up, but your age gap—”

“Please stop, Miss Hye-Jin,” Jo Hye-Jin said, raising her voice.

‘I told you. You were taking it too far. If you keep acting like that, she’ll end up getting angry.’

“Don’t you think you’re being too harsh, Miss Ji-Hye?

Whoo

… I’m sorry, Mr. Elias. I’ll apologize in her place…” Jo Hye-Jin said.

“I-It’s fine, Miss Hye-Jin,” Elias said.

And that was when Lee Ji-Hye started crying...

‘Crocodile tears.’

“

Uh…

Miss Ji-Hye…?” Jo Hye-Jin said.

“I-I… was just—

Heuk!

” Lee Ji-Hye sobbed.

“I’m sorry, Miss Ji-Hye…” Jo Hye-Jin said.

She was doing all that just so Jo Hye-Jin would see her tears.

“Are you okay? Was I too harsh?” Jo Hye-Jin asked cautiously.

“I was just… worried about you… Miss Hye-Jin…

Heuk

… T-That’s all…” Lee Ji-Hye stammered and sobbed.

The turn of events was so fast that I couldn't help but wonder whether someone could truly change attitudes at such speed.

Meanwhile, Elias sensed the strange atmosphere and gulped a mouthful of his own saliva.