“I thought you would come a little later, young master.”

The driver cheerfully spoke to Seung Ho through the rearview mirror. He responded with a polite smile instead of words. The sudden call from his father, Chairman Shin, was unexpected even for him.

Seung Ho’s father felt more comfortable with his eldest son Myung Ho, who resembled his grandfather, rather than Seung Ho who took after him.

Chairman Shin, who had called him all the way to America, personally accompanied him to view Ivy League and prestigious universities in New York. He seemed displeased with the news that Seung Ho was preparing for a European university instead of an American one.

“Wouldn’t it be better here than a university in England?”

He had perfectly prepared exams and essays aiming for a university in London. It wasn’t something he had prepared for just a day or two, so everyone who should know – people at the mansion, friends – were all aware of this fact.

Telling Seung Ho to reconsider his school choice now was too insincere to be called advice for his benefit.

‘Such thorough indifference…’

A wry smile came involuntarily, but he didn’t bother to show his emotions in front of him.

That’s what a father was to Seung Ho. So instead of giving reasons for going to London, he dropped the bomb his father would find most objectionable.

“I might even prepare for a domestic university instead of Europe.”

The strategy was successful. His words were somewhat sincere, and it was amusing to watch Chairman Shin’s face turn ashen.

However, unlike his mother who would start yelling, his father’s reaction was different. Instead of getting angry, he stroked his stiff jaw with dark eyes as he looked at Seung Ho.

“If it’s domestic, there’s still time, so let’s think about it slowly.”

If there was a characteristic of Chairman Shin, who had received successor training under his perfect grandfather, it was that he didn’t show his emotions well.

A poker face was his greatest strength, but his actions were not – his petty nature when things didn’t go his way was no exception even for his son.

That Seung Ho’s answer displeased him could be seen from his subsequent actions.

Although his father had called him all the way to America, there was no more time spent together after the university tour.

Business meetings, private parties with owners, and various charity events for support projects…

Chairman Shin’s executive secretary listed his father’s schedules with a slightly embarrassed face, conveying apologies for not being able to accompany him.

There was hardly any sign of disappointment on his face as he listened to the report. It didn’t matter. If business was done, he could leave. Seung Ho packed his bags to return without regret. He wanted to go back to Korea now.

“The traffic is heavy because of the snow.”

The driver looked troubled as he saw the navigation showing the arrival time getting longer.

At the mention of snow, Seung Ho’s indifferent eyes turned to the car window. The sleet that was falling when they arrived at the airport had now turned into large snowflakes, coloring the world white.

The corners of Seung Ho’s mouth, who had been staring outside for a while, turned up. He quite liked the fact that he was in Korea now, not America.

This time spent on the road was nothing.

He put his hand inside his coat. What came out of the roomy coat was a snow globe that barely fit in one hand. He had discovered this snow globe in a gift shop he happened to enter while walking alone on the streets of New York. It was something he liked after a long time.

Inside the snow globe with small snow falling was a small blue butterfly. Seung Ho examined the snow globe carefully with gentle eyes.

Ji Hyun’s rosy cheeks as she would look at the white snow softly piled on the blue butterfly’s wings fixed in resin flashed before his eyes.

Since it was a bit big for his hand, she with her small hands would have to receive the snow globe with both hands.

How would those light brown eyes, almost transparent, react to this…

At the thought of Ji Hyun holding the snow globe in her eyes, Seung Ho’s expression slightly twisted at the tightening sensation in his chest.

“It would suit her well.”

“Ah, this is really driving me crazy! Why is everyone treating me like this!”

Manager Kim, who had received the call, mercilessly tore at her well-combed, neat hair. As the madam’s stay at the mansion prolonged, employees submitting resignation letters were popping up one after another. Yesterday, she almost got into a fight by throwing her indoor slippers at the kitchen helper.

The thoroughly insulted helper rolled up her sleeves as if she would no longer tolerate it.

The task of stopping and persuading the helper instead of the madam who had turned away fell to Manager Kim. She already missed Hyun Sook who had submitted her resignation letter and left a few days ago. She felt uneasy seeing Hyun Sook and Ji Hyun being driven out for ridiculous reasons, marked by the madam.

Amidst the chaos, Manager Kim thought it was fortunate that young master Seung Ho was not in Korea.

From before, Manager Kim found Seung Ho, who had a particularly different temperament among Chairman Shin’s people, difficult. The young boy always had a face unsuitable for his age.

When facing that calm and cold face like a frozen lake, she would unknowingly get chills.

If he had been present when Ji Hyun was unjustly driven out, it would have been harder for Manager Kim to handle.

It was known even among the servants that Seung Ho treated Ji Hyun somewhat differently from others.

However, since it was far from ordinary kindness, everyone pitied Ji Hyun for being bullied when called by Seung Ho. But Manager Kim’s thoughts were different.

For someone who had not a single piece of interest in others, if he felt interest, that itself would have great meaning.

For those who have never felt affection, it’s natural to feel unpleasant and want to push it away to the point of rejection.

Manager Kim thought that the unfeeling and cold Seung Ho bullied Ji Hyun because he felt something like affection for her.

Unfortunately, since the madam also came to the same conclusion, this trouble broke out…

She received word that young master Seung Ho, who had left for America at his father Chairman Shin’s call some time ago, had returned and arrived at Incheon Airport.

Considering his journey where there was usually no contact for at least a month or two once he went abroad, the quick return was very unfamiliar news.

Manager Kim, standing at the main gate waiting for the car that would arrive soon, looked up at the sky once and let out a long sigh.

“…It’s snowing again.”

Seung Ho, who arrived at the mansion, immediately headed to his room with quick steps and asked for Ji Hyun.

“Please call her, Ji Hyun.”

“Y-young master, that’s…”

When Manager Kim hesitated to answer unlike herself, Seung Ho turned his head.

“Is she out?”

Unable to tell the truth, Manager Kim opened and closed her mouth repeatedly. Noticing the unusual atmosphere, Seung Ho’s eyes narrowed.

“Tell me. Right now.”

At the cold and intimidating command, Manager Kim squeezed her eyes shut. Here it comes.

“Hyun Sook and Ji Hyun quit their jobs and left a few days ago.”

Contrary to the expectation that a sharp cry filled with anger would soon follow the unexpected development, silence fell. As the air became stifling in the quiet, Seung Ho slowly opened his mouth.

“…Say that again.”

At the icy voice that made her heart shrink, Manager Kim couldn’t even open her eyes and kept swallowing dry saliva.

“They submitted their resignation letters and left a while ago. I’m sorry, young master.”

“…”

Unlike the expectation that he would ask several questions like when they left or where they went at least at the news of quitting, Seung Ho didn’t say anything.

Feeling puzzled, Manager Kim gently opened her eyes that had been closed. His gaze was directed not at Manager Kim but at the large window. Outside, a snowstorm was raging fiercely.

Manager Kim, who was carefully observing him, felt inwardly relieved at his calm face.

‘Is he alright?’

Just as she was thinking that she might have overreacted to insignificant emotions, Manager Kim corrected her thoughts. Seung Ho’s lips were trembling minutely as he stared at the snowstorm.

“This is really too much.”

Mi Ri pouted as she stared at the still empty seat even though school had started. It had become a habit since hearing from Ha Jun that Ji Hyun had suddenly moved.

The bewildering emotions from her friend’s sudden absence turned into anger. She was very angry at Ji Hyun who disappeared without a word even though she thought they were close. And soon she became sad. She missed Ji Hyun who would always smile shyly with a kind face wherever she went. When walking with Ha Jun, her absence felt even greater.

She had asked Ha Jun several times, who seemed to know Ji Hyun’s circumstances unlike herself, but the answer was always the same.

“I don’t know well either. Only that she had to leave right away… So we can only think that Ji Hyun must have had good reasons.”

At those times, she would attack Ha Jun saying he was too good-natured, but on the other hand, she was comforted by his attitude of not being disappointed unlike herself. Mi Ri gripped her pen tightly with a solemn face.

‘Right, I can confront her later when we meet. At that time, I’ll definitely…’

“…Huh?”

Her eyes widened as she happened to look out the classroom window.

“Ha Jun, Kim Ha Jun!”

Ha Jun took out his earphones at Mi Ri’s urgent and flustered cry.

“What?”

“There, look there!”

Stuttering as if she couldn’t speak properly, she pointed frantically at none other than the school gate.

“What on earth is it that you’re making such a fuss?”

Ha Jun frowned at her exaggerated behavior. Mi Ri swallowed hard and barely spat out one sentence.

“The Northern Grand Duke…”

“What?”

“Shin Seung Ho, Shin Seung Ho is there!”