The morning after Soeun left, during an early breakfast. Wishing that it wouldn’t be known to Taehoon, Jaepil knew everything about Seokhwa sending Soeun away overnight. It also meant that he had been observing the child and Taehoon for a long time.

“Do you know? That child and Taehoon were close.”

“I was going to tell her when she could understand. What her father did.”

At his father’s response, Seokhwa lost words. From the top of his head to the bones in his hands and even between his eyebrows, a chilling aura swept through.

He felt that no matter how hard he tried, he could not win against his father. Unlike himself, who let emotions lead actions, his father had the cunning to look ahead and watch carefully according to the calculations.

A cruel cunning that could be called a strategy.

“Well, it’s not bad now. It might be a good method to separate when she knows nothing.”

As if it were nothing, Jaepil calmly passed over the past that had passed by, as if flipping through a newspaper in front of him.

“Now, let’s not talk about that child anymore.”

That’s how the father and daughter became accomplices.
Meanwhile, the nephew who learned that the child had disappeared wore a vacant expression for a while.

“I don’t even know who took her. She left without a word, and I didn’t even ask where she’s going.”

Seokhwa, watching the child’s expression, mixed unnecessary lies while the child’s wrist shook like leaves, making Seokhwa uneasy.

“Are you very upset? Our Taejun seemed to have a lot of affection for that child.”

“No, it’s not like that. I didn’t like her.”

The nephew denied the emotions clearly visible in her face, which had turned as red as autumn maple leaves. Although the sight was cute, once again, Seokhwa did not scold. He thought it was enough as long as she didn’t despair.

Like falling leaves and melting snow, Seokhwa believed that the emotions of loss would naturally fade away as time passed.

As soon as morning dawned, Taejun called the chauffeur and headed to the main house.

The family breakfast meeting, which had been postponed, was finally being held. Even though there were only three family members, they were all busy people, so Taejun had to wait two months after coming to Korea to have a meal together.

In fact, being busy was an excuse, and Taejun intentionally didn’t look for the old house. Although a long time had passed, the main house was still a place of tragedy for Taejun and a place that held the saddest memories.

The gardens surrounding the mansion were vast like a forest, making the place even lonelier.

Arriving earlier than expected, Taejun got out of the car after telling the chauffeur that he would go in alone at the mansion entrance.

Passing through the gate and stepping on the uneven stone path, he truly felt like he had returned home. It was also a beautiful place where he hesitated to acknowledge it as a memory trapped in the shadow of sadness.

Beyond the right side of the stone path, the garden, where various trees grew, was creating a grand spectacle in the best season. In summer, it could be occasionally noisy with various birds and cicadas, but there were definitely good aspects to it.

Beyond the thin branches of tall trees, the mansion, like a magical castle, came into view. Taejun turned in a direction without walking along the stone path.

He headed toward the employee dormitory, not far from the entrance gate. Recalling memories, he found a bench.

The bench was located on the path leading from the employee dormitory to the main building. It was as clean and white as if no one had sat on it since Taejun left.

Taejun sat on the bench like its long-lost owner.

It was the bench that had been waiting for that child.

The bench that had waited for the child and became one that didn’t have to wait.
Although Taejun had realized early on that the child wouldn’t come back, he found himself sitting here. Like ordinary people who continue with their given tasks even after losing their initial enthusiasm, the word “waiting” was erased, leaving only the habit of sitting in the same spot. Even after erasing the child’s name and memories, he continued to sit there.

Come to think of it, it seemed like he intentionally erased the name ‘Han Soeun’ to avoid recalling it. Although he couldn’t let go of the habit of sitting on the bench.

As the summer solstice approached, he watched the shadow cool the child’s ankles on the bench. As the parting approached, he felt an increasing desire to torment her. Occasionally, taking advantage of the loud cicadas, he would grab the child’s head, pull it back, and laugh or make a commotion.

After the seven-year-old Soeun suddenly left one day, he had briefly entertained such thoughts. Every time they parted, he thought she left without a word because she couldn’t stand living with him.

He might have thought of being a bit kinder.

“Taejun.”

He had intended to sit quietly, but Seokhwa approached from the main house and shook his hand. Taejun, robbed of his contemplative tranquility, stood up from his seat.

“Aunt.”

“What are you doing here? Come inside.”

“It’s been a while. The weather is nice.”

“Indeed. The weather is good today.”

Seokhwa, approaching like a gentleman guiding a young lady, gracefully extended his hand. Following the direction pointed by his hand, Taejun and Seokhwa walked leisurely.

“How have you been?”

“Fine.”

“Still no girlfriend?”

“……. ”

“Why not? You look handsome like this.”

“That’s right.”

Taejun responded with a nonchalant smile.

“Should I introduce you to a nice girl, nephew?”

“No, thank you.”

“Why do you always react like that? Don’t you trust your aunt?”

“If it’s a girl introduced by my aunt, we should meet with marriage in mind.”

“If you get along, you might end up getting married.”

“I don’t want to. Not yet.”

As Taejun approached the main house, his strides widened. Although Taejun’s steps, stepping on the uneven stone path, were even and stable, somehow Seokhwa felt uneasy.