‘From now on, things will be different.’

Lee Se Hee turned around and returned to her seat confidently.

After focusing on work with a straight posture, at exactly 6 o’clock, she left work precisely on time.

However, Se Hee’s expression was dark.

Just because she resolved to change, the situation wouldn’t suddenly transform.

She had no plans for her vacation starting tomorrow.

She impulsively submitted a leave request because of the wedding invitation Hyo Jun had given her.

During the month-long leave, she wouldn’t have to see Hyo Jun’s garbage face, but after that?

All she could do was sigh.

She had barely endured until now, but could she really bear seeing the married Hyo Jun’s face every day?

Se Hee wasn’t confident she could face that terrible situation ahead.

Perhaps she would end up requesting a department transfer, or even leaving this company.

To think she might have to leave the company that had been her everything until now because of that trash.

Her mood sank to rock bottom and her mind became troubled.

Soon, depressing emotions came flooding in.

‘No. Don’t get carried away by negative feelings.’

Se Hee shook her head.

You’ve been through enough hardship until now.

Lee Se Hee!

Don’t tremble with anxiety worrying about a future that hasn’t come yet.

At least for this month, I want to spend time freely for myself.

Let’s think about what comes after when the time comes.

Because I’ve decided to really change now.

As Se Hee strengthened her resolve again and focused her gaze, a large travel agency sign entered her view.

A luxurious cruise ship like a white castle on the blue sea.

Glamorous onboard parties every night and beautiful port excursions.

Se Hee stood still for a while, her gaze fixed on the dazzling scene being advertised on the electronic display.

Yes, that’s it.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Se Hee stepped forward vigorously.

“Welcome.”

As Se Hee entered the travel agency, a male employee with a friendly voice greeted her warmly.

“What kind of travel are you looking for, our valued customer?”

Perhaps because it was a travel agency, the employee immediately asked about travel plans.

“Yes. I’d like to inquire about the cruise trip being advertised right now.”

“Ah! A cruise. That’s an excellent choice.”

Responding enthusiastically to Se Hee’s answer, the man immediately opened a cruise-related pamphlet right in front of her.

“Is the groom-to-be very busy? Well, these days the brides-to-be tend to be more thorough in planning.”

The man’s casual words felt like a heavy stone placed on Se Hee’s chest.

“…It’s not a honeymoon, I’ll be traveling alone. Is that difficult?”

The travel agency employee’s expression froze for a moment as he looked at Se Hee speaking with a complicated expression.

“W-what? N-no, of course not. Cruise travel is originally for family trips, I mean, it can be enjoyed alone just as much. That’s the advantage of this type of travel.”

The employee’s expression as he tried to hide his embarrassment was pitiful to see.

“Then, could you show me options for solo travel?”

“Yes, yes. Of course, of course. Could you wait just a moment?”

The employee immediately stood up, speaking towards Se Hee who asked with a deliberately nonchalant expression.

After asking for Se Hee’s permission and hurriedly moving away, the employee returned shortly with a pleased expression.

“Customer! I’ve found the perfect product for you. However, the timing is a bit tight. It’s a cruise ship departing from Venice, Italy in 5 days.”

The employee opened the brochure he was holding.

“It’s the last available cabin. I think we can arrange the flight right away. What do you think?”

“…The schedule is fine.”

If they could prepare the one-way flight to Italy, Se Hee had no particular issues.

“Is that so? You’re really fortunate. It’s a Mediterranean cruise with a fantastic itinerary stopping at ports like Rome, Italy and Santorini, Greece.”

The employee boasted with exaggerated actions again.

Mediterranean Santorini.

It was a place Se Hee had always wanted to visit.

“If there are no additional guests checking in, you may be able to use a double cabin for the price of a single room.”

The employee explained as if giving a tip.

“Sounds good. I’ll take this package.”

“Our customer is decisive. This is the Decona, making its maiden voyage from England under the Evans Line.”

Evans Line? Evans Hotel?

Se Hee, working in the same industry, knew well that Evans Hotel was a global hotel business based in England.

“If it’s Evans, I suppose I don’t need to worry about the rooms or service.”

“You know about the Evans Group, customer.”

Thinking the conversation would be easier, the employee’s face brightened as he pulled out a stack of remaining pamphlets and passionately explained about cruise travel.

The cruise trip was about a 2-week itinerary.

Perhaps because of the long schedule or because it was a balcony cabin more expensive than regular rooms, the travel cost was quite a burdensome amount.

After briefly contemplating, Se Hee decided to use the wedding fund she hadn’t dared to touch.

She boldly broke the savings account she had diligently filled while dreaming alone of a happy future with Hyo Jun.

Why had she been so frugal with this?

Thinking of it as the best gift for herself, she immediately transferred the withdrawn amount to the travel agency.

As Se Hee received the contract, she decided to think only about the luxurious cruise ship, the cool sea breeze, the exciting parties held every night, and the beautiful port excursions she would enjoy from now on.

* * *

The VVIP suite on the top floor, the 21st floor of the Decona cruise ship.

The sunset pouring through the transparent balcony window dyed the room inside with a red glow.

Kyle, dressed in a neat black suit, adjusted his clothes one more time before heading to the event hall.

His eyes were cold as he stared at his reflection in the mirror, buttoned up perfectly to the top button on his neck.

“Time?”

“10 minutes before.”

“Let’s go.”

Kyle headed to the event hall after a brief exchange with his secretary Dave.

Evans Hotel had completed its expansion into Europe from its British headquarters and was planning to extend its influence to Asia.

At this point, Kyle attempted yet another new challenge.

The supreme luxury hotel on the sea.

A cruise.

In keeping with Evans Hotel’s status, the plan was to establish Evans Hotel Resorts at each port where the cruise ship docked, as well as the most luxurious hotel on the sea.

Kyle was already well-known in the industry for his excellent business acumen and fearsome drive, but his aggressive aspect was further highlighted through this cruise line business.

Finally tomorrow.

It’s the first sailing day of the Decona, Evans Cruise Line’s largest cruise ship.

An event was scheduled to be held in the grand ballroom with all crew members to commemorate this.

Kyle, who had been walking quickly towards the event hall, stopped at the end of the wide corridor connected to the grand ballroom.

That place was set up as a gallery.

Famous artists’ works were on display for passengers boarding the Decona.

Kyle’s gaze turned to one painting exhibited there.

It was a work where red and yellow blended well, like a sunset, as if trying to embrace each other.

“As you instructed to exclude it from the center, we arranged a location here.”

Dave quickly added an explanation.

Even the sharp-eyed Dave failed to notice Kyle’s cold gaze wavering for a moment.

“Remaining time?”

“5 minutes before.”

Kyle’s halted steps headed towards the grand ballroom again.

At 5 PM, the exact promised time, Kyle, the representative of Evans Cruise Line, appeared in the grand ballroom.

The gazes of the waiting crew members all turned to Kyle at once.

When the representative’s entrance was announced, the crowded grand ballroom became as quiet as if no one was there.

This was because rumors about Kyle’s cold image as a cold-blooded person had already spread among the crew members.

However, the moment Kyle stepped onto the platform, exclamations erupted from here and there as if pre-arranged, at his breathtakingly handsome appearance that exceeded imagination.

“Hello. I am Kyle Graham Evans, representative of Evans Line.”

Kyle’s low and calm voice, starting with his name introduction, echoed through the grand ballroom.

Naturally, the grand ballroom was dominated by Kyle’s aura with that overwhelming charisma.

After finishing his greeting and coming down from the platform, Marcus, the captain, approached Kyle.

“Hello, sir.”

The tanned skin of the old captain, with his white hair neatly combed up, seemed to directly reflect a life on the rough sea.

“Please ensure this sailing proceeds smoothly, Captain Marcus.”

Kyle’s voice towards the captain was resolute, more like an order than a request.

The captain, who thought he was no less charismatic, clearly felt that this young representative was no ordinary person.

“Of course, I’ll do my best, but… for sailors like us who entrust our lives to the sea, the ‘Curse of the Jaina’ is a particularly concerning matter.”

However, this was an issue that absolutely had to be addressed, so the captain stood before Kyle representing everyone.

“The Decona of Evans Cruise Line is not swayed by superstitions.”

However, Kyle’s response to the captain was as cold as Arctic ice.

Captain Marcus was by no means an easy-going person. This was evident just from his face, which clearly showed the toughness of a sailor who had lived on the rough sea for years.

Nevertheless, Captain Marcus was completely overwhelmed by Kyle’s response.

The captain lightly bowed and turned away, swallowing a bitter gulp as he watched Kyle’s retreating figure.

* * *

Five days passed quickly.

Se Hee was now looking up at the exotic blue sky at Venice International Airport in Italy.

After taking the bus prepared by the travel agency from the airport, Se Hee arrived at the Venice port where the cruise ship was docked.

Seeing the majestic white cruise ship under the intense sun, Se Hee’s heart naturally fluttered with excitement.

It was the moment when a world she had never known before was about to unfold before her eyes.

In Se Hee’s hand was the boarding pass that would allow her to enter this new world.

The excitement for that place was greater than the fear of the unfamiliar.

Filling her heart with the freedom of the wind blowing from the sea, Se Hee moved her steps.

At the desk prepared near the cruise ship, crew members in white uniforms were receiving passengers’ bags and luggage.

Se Hee also joined the line of passengers waiting their turn, pulling her large travel bag.

“Hello.”

When it was Se Hee’s turn, the crew member, seeing the nationality marked on her passport, playfully greeted her in clumsy Korean.

“Hello.”

Se Hee also greeted with a smile.

Thanks to the friendly crew members, Se Hee easily checked in her luggage and finally boarded the cruise ship.

The cruise ship was bustling with passengers who had boarded before Se Hee.

Se Hee also headed to her assigned cabin while admiring the magnificent deck.

Room 1305.

As she entered the cabin, a cool sea breeze blew in from the open balcony with a beautiful view of the sea.

The cruise ship’s cabin rates varied tremendously depending on the presence of windows and balconies.

But since it was the last available cabin, Se Hee had no choice and had to pay a high price for the balcony cabin.

Now that she saw it, she was so pleased that she would have regretted it if there hadn’t been such a pretty balcony.

On the table in the cabin were welcome gifts of wine and chocolates, cutely placed to welcome boarding passengers.

On the neatly made bed were the overall travel itinerary and detailed guides for events and programs.

Shortly after, Se Hee’s travel bag was also delivered to the cabin.

Everything was perfect without any inconvenience.

Se Hee first looked at the itinerary.

Santorini, the port of call arriving on the third day of sailing, caught her eye first.

Santorini, the place of her dreams.

Originally, it was a place she wanted to visit for her honeymoon.

Honeymoon.

Marriage.

Cha Hyo Jun.

The words that came to mind sequentially like connected links instantly pushed Se Hee into a swamp of depression.

“No. Don’t do this after coming all this way. I decided to change, didn’t I?”

Se Hee shook her head as if trying to shake off the heavy depression.

“Should I unpack my bag?”

Se Hee stood up, speaking loudly on purpose to change her mood, and brought her travel bag to the bed.

She couldn’t waste precious time thinking about Hyo Jun after all the preparation she had done for this trip.

Se Hee started unpacking clothes from her travel bag.

As she lifted the last piece of clothing, a pure white card that had been mixed in between fell to the floor with a thud.

Se Hee, with a bitter expression, paused and looked down at the card.

The shape of the card with its open entrance was very familiar.

An incredulous exclamation burst from Se Hee’s lips as she recognized the card.

“Ha, no way?”