“Thank you for your consideration.”

The corners of Yeoul’s eyes crinkled as she smiled.

That smile sent a surge of warmth through Tae’s throat.

It was a strange sensation he had never felt before.

“To be honest, at first I thought you were a scary and strange person.”

As Yeoul said, Tae was being considerate towards her.

Tae thought about the reason for that.

Yeoul’s world was so small and insignificant that Tae could easily save it with just a little effort.

Tae had no intention of becoming absorbed in saving someone. He didn’t have such a hobby.

He also thought that perhaps he was being considerate to Yeoul out of sympathy.

But there was no need not to help. That’s why he did it, Tae thought.

“The more I get to know you, the kinder you seem.”

Those words jolted Tae to attention.

Belatedly, he remembered the reason he had decided to show kindness to Yeoul.

The kindness was not originally based on sympathy.

He had thought that gaining Yeoul’s favor would be helpful when planning future affairs.

Because Han Yeoul was a useful tool.

He had simply handled her well to make good use of a necessary tool at the appropriate time.

Tae, who had been silently gazing at Yeoul, opened his mouth.

“You’re mistaken. I’m not a kind person.”

It was kindness that would be withdrawn once its usefulness was exhausted.

“I’m doing it because it’s necessary.”

So Tae thought the word ‘kind’ didn’t suit him.

“Try participating in the selection with such a haggard face. You’ll be eliminated in the first round.”

“Ah……”

Yeoul’s face flushed with embarrassment.

‘I was just deluding myself……’

She had momentarily forgotten that her relationship with Tae was one formed for mutual benefit.

As Tae said, if she went to the selection with a thin and dark complexion, it would be difficult to make a good impression.

He had just treated her well out of necessity. How embarrassing to have mistaken that for kindness.

Yeoul was a little ashamed of her delusion.

So she bowed her head for no reason.

“Thank you anyway. Thanks to you, I definitely feel refreshed.”

Yeoul raised her head again to look at Tae.

Still, she realized that Tae was a thoughtful person.

She thought it was okay to know this much about a business partner.

“Let’s eat.”

Along with the indifferent answer, a table full of soup, boiled pork, and various greasy pancakes was brought out.

Yeoul’s eyes widened at the spread that looked like it could break the table.

“…What is all this?”

“You have to eat everything here before you can get up.”

The corners of Tae’s eyes curved mischievously.

“Didn’t I tell you? My ideal type is a chubby girl.”

I can’t let her participate in the selection with such a haggard face.

That’s why I’m feeding her, that’s all.

.

.

.

Dishes were piled on the table.

Most of them were unfinished, but it looked much more cleared compared to the beginning.

Yeoul, who had managed to shove a piece of boiled pork into her mouth, put down her spoon.

“I can’t eat anymore……”

She felt like her stomach was about to burst. She had reached her limit.

“Then shall we get up?”

“Yes…!”

At Tae’s question, Yeoul immediately got up from her seat.

She had been worried that she would have to eat until her stomach burst when he said she had to finish everything before getting up.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to do that.

“Let’s walk a bit to help with digestion.”

The two left the tavern and headed towards Yeoul’s family home.

Yeoul’s steps slowed, her body feeling bloated.

As the gap widened between her and Tae, who was walking ahead, he turned around.

“What are you doing? Not coming?”

“I’ll catch up soon. You go ahead.”

Tae stared at Yeoul for a moment, then turned back to walk forward.

Before long, the distance narrowed. The two ended up walking side by side.

‘Did he intentionally slow down……?’

Yeoul tilted her head.

Although she had hurried, Yeoul’s walking speed wasn’t much different from before.

If Tae wasn’t deliberately walking slowly, they wouldn’t be able to match their steps like this.

At that moment, Yeoul’s fingertips brushed against Tae’s.

‘Ah……!’

Even though it was just their fingertips touching.

Yeoul found the touched fingertips both ticklish and electrifying.

Startled by the strangely unfamiliar sensation, Yeoul looked at Tae.

Yeoul’s gaze passed Tae’s dark eyes and traveled down his well-defined nose.

Then it landed on Tae’s lips.

Yeoul thought the reddish lips looked sensual.

“Where are you looking like that?”

“Huh?”

Yeoul, who had been blankly staring at Tae’s lips, came to her senses.

As she raised her head to look up at Tae, she saw his mischievously curved crescent eyes looking down at her.

Those eyes clearly had an ulterior motive.

“Why, why are you smiling like that?”

At Yeoul’s question, Tae’s eyes curved even more.

That smile made Yeoul uneasy.

“Because I think I know what you’re thinking.”

“……!”

Yeoul’s face felt hot.

She was embarrassed as if her thoughts had been exposed, but Yeoul felt a needless sense of defiance.

“……What do you think I’m thinking?”

“Well……”

Before Tae could answer.

“Aren’t you Lord Tae of the Kang clan?”

A woman’s voice called out to Tae.

Turning around, a woman dressed in elegant attire was seen.

Fair and clear skin. Neatly braided black hair. Delicate features.

Judging by her graceful demeanor and the three or four servants following her, she was undoubtedly a lady from a prestigious family at a glance.

Tae asked with an indifferent expression.

“Who are you?”

At Tae’s question, the woman’s eyes curved beautifully.

“I am Shim Chae Rin.”

“The grand-niece of Lord Gukgu?”

“I’m honored that you know me. I never thought I would meet you here.”

Shim Chae Rin. The woman Yeoul had to face.

Chae Rin’s intelligent eyes and healthy complexion.

Her upright posture emanating from innate confidence.

Her elegant and clear voice and bright expression were favorable at a glance and proved she was on a different level from ordinary ladies.

The perfect model was right in front of her.

Yeoul understood why Tae had been so focused on selection training.

To compete and win against such a woman, ordinary preparation would be impossible.

Chae Rin shifted her gaze towards Yeoul.

“And who is this……?”

“I am Han Yeoul.”

“Ah……”

Chae Rin looked Yeoul up and down from head to toe.

Then, looking at Tae, she smiled again.

“Since we met like this, it must be fate. Wouldn’t you like to have a cup of tea? It will be my treat.”

“I must decline. I’m in a hurry.”

As Tae tried to end the conversation, Yeoul spoke.

“We will.”

Tae looked at Yeoul.

“Lady. Didn’t you say you had something to do?”

“On second thought, it’s not that urgent. It seems impolite to refuse the invitation.”

Was it because Tae had given a hint beforehand? Or was it because she had lived her life just reading the room?

Yeoul didn’t think Chae Rin’s invitation was a simple gesture of kindness.

It was clear there was an ulterior motive beneath her smiling face.

If they refused Chae Rin’s offer here, she thought it would be seen as avoidance.

Yeoul wanted to accept Chae Rin’s invitation, thinking it was a good way to get to know the opponent she would be facing.

Chae Rin smiled brightly and replied.

“Then I will take you to my residence.”

The three of them headed towards Chae Rin’s residence.

One man and two women. The sight was quite bizarre.

Chae Rin glanced at Tae and Yeoul and spoke.

“Lord Tae seems to be quite close with the Han family’s lady.”

“We met by chance on the way.”

Tae lied casually.

Chae Rin looked suspicious.

“By chance?”

“Didn’t we also meet by chance like this, Lady Shim?”

“That’s true.”

Engaged in small talk, the three arrived at a bridge.

It was a bridge they had to cross to get to Chae Rin’s residence.

Under the bridge flowed a stream with a higher water level than usual.

“Perhaps because it rained the day before, the water has risen a lot.”

Yeoul’s gaze naturally turned to the stream under the bridge.

Seeing the turbulent rapids, she felt dizzy.

It felt like she would be sucked into the rapids at any moment, making it difficult to take a step.

As Yeoul hesitated at the entrance of the bridge, Tae and Chae Rin, who had gone ahead, turned around.

Yeoul’s face had turned pale.

“Ah…… I’ll follow. You two go ahead first.”

“Lady, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m really fine.”

Yeoul took a step.

She deliberately fixed her gaze ahead, trying not to look at the water.

Averting her gaze, this time the sound of rough currents hit Yeoul’s ears.

She began to feel increasingly faint and short of breath.

“Haa……”

Yeoul’s body was covered in cold sweat, and her hands and feet trembled.

As she tried to cross the bridge somehow, Tae and Chae Rin gradually became blurry in Yeoul’s vision.

“Lady!”

Simultaneously with Tae’s cry, Yeoul’s body tilted.

.

.

.

Yeoul, who had fainted, slowly opened her eyes.

Seeing the familiar ceiling, it was a room in the annex of her family home.

Nearby, she saw the blanket covering her and a basin of water with a towel.

Next to it, Tae was sitting.

“Are you coming to your senses now?”

As Yeoul weakly nodded and tried to get up, Tae stopped her.

“It would be better for you to lie down.”

Yeoul already felt like all the energy had drained from her body.

Yeoul lay back down.

“You suddenly fainted while walking on the bridge.”

“Ah……”

“The doctor who came and went said there’s nothing wrong with your body. Why did that happen?”

Tae soaked the towel in the basin of water.

“Because of… water.”

“Water?”

“Since I was young, whenever I go near water, I break out in cold sweat and feel dizzy……”

“Do you have any bad memories related to water?”

“I don’t know. That’s……”

“Right. You said you lost your childhood memories.”

Tae wrung out the water from the wet towel.

“It seems to be related to your childhood memories. Do you remember anything?”

“Not at all.”

Yeoul shook her head.

“You said your elder brother found you collapsed by the riverside and saved you?”

“Yes. My young elder brother discovered me and called the adults.”

“You may be instinctively avoiding water due to the experience of almost drowning at that time. Even if your mind doesn’t remember, your body may remember.”

Yeoul had thought about that possibility before.

As she was thinking that Tae’s words made sense, at that moment.

Tae brought the wrung-out towel to Yeoul’s forehead, which was covered in cold sweat, and said.

“I don’t have very good memories related to water either.”

“You too?”

Tae carefully wiped Yeoul’s forehead.

Yeoul didn’t mind the gentle touch wiping her forehead and the cool sensation lowering her temperature.

“Someone precious to me had fallen into the water.”