How could I explain? That someone might be secretly watching everything between you and me. So, I got scared and stiffened.

It was when I bit the end of my lips. Danmokbi’s fingers gently touched my lips, as if worried that I might hurt myself. This caring gesture was overwhelmingly tender.
“Yeona, I know I can’t rely on you in every situation. I also know you can’t always think of me.”

With even such small details in mind, Danmokbi added in a soft voice, “Still, don’t forget that I’m by your side when it’s tough.”

The moment I heard those words, courage surged within me, a courage that hadn’t existed anywhere in my body. I tightly grasped Danmokbi’s clothing.

“I, I’m fine now.”

“What?”

Not understanding my abrupt words, Danmokbi widened his eyes slightly. Still holding onto his clothes, I slowly opened my mouth.

“More than ever… I want to be close to you.”

Without waiting for a response, I kissed Danmokbi.

Danmokbi seemed a bit taken aback, but soon, as if wondering why he hesitated, he firmly pulled me closer.

“Yeona, Yeona.”

His voice calling my name was sticky and sweet, like melted sugar. Holding onto his neck as he tried to pull away, I kissed him even more deeply.

‘I like you.’

Whether someone is watching or there’s some danger in liking you, I won’t retreat because I like you so much.

In the thick intertwining breaths, it felt like my mind was becoming distant.

Between the loose clothes that were slightly undone due to the rumbling in his chest, warm palms slipped in. The hand that came up along the slender calf firmly grasped the fair and plump thigh.

“Smile.”

Startled by my sudden reaction, when I separated my lips with a small moan, Danmokbi, following my withdrawing face, left lingering kisses on my chin and neck. With a voice hoarse from thirst, he whispered in my ear.

“Yeona, I don’t care what you call me. Without you, I wouldn’t have any reason to exist.”

When I came to my senses, I found myself lying on the floor with Danmokbi holding me between his arms and looking down at me.

His sweet kisses, the warmth enveloping my entire body, I only choked back a small sob instead of responding. As if comforting me in that state, Danmokbi, leaving a light kiss on my eyes, whispered in a serious tone.

“So, my heart is in your hands.”

I just held onto Danmokbi’s arms tightly, pressing my fingers into his flesh.

And the next day, thanks to Danmokbi, I regained my strength. I told everyone the truth about my situation.

“The leader of the Blood Cult uses a paper doll to monitor me. It sometimes conveys messages to me and seems to eavesdrop on the conversations I’m having.”

“What did you say?!”

My grandfather, furious at my words, slammed his fist on the table.

“What kind of wicked intentions does he have toward our granddaughter to do such a malicious thing!”

Indeed, that was the question. I was really curious about why he suddenly took such an interest in me.
“At first, it seemed like they simply wanted to change their future, but judging by their sticky behavior, it seems like their goal has surpassed that now.”

If they are planning to send me back to the original world and rewrite the novel to have them rule the central region, it doesn’t matter whether Yeona and Danmokbi are embracing each other or not.

“He also told me to stay by his side continuously.”

Because Hyeoljunghyeok had a childlike personality, it was rather difficult to grasp his true feelings.

My father, who was relatively more rational, stiffened his face and asked, “Isn’t it still dangerous now? If they were monitoring you and noticed you telling us this fact, what would happen?”

“Oh, it seems like the connection is cut off now.”

“How do you know that?”

“Like this.”

Instead of answering, I kissed Danmokbi on the cheek. With this unexpected surprise kiss, Danmokbi froze like ice. I shrugged my shoulders.

“When I expressed affection to Danmok’s god of cattle, the paper doll would jump around or stir up the wind. But now, judging by the calmness, it’s clear that the connection is cut off.”

If they were watching me, it wouldn’t have been so quiet last night. Hyeoljunghyeok would have jumped up right away.

“He definitely likes me. It’s clear that his expression is distorted, though.”

Even if he genuinely likes me, this kind of expression of affection is nothing but a nuisance to the other person.

It was when I sighed through my nose, thinking about Hyeoljunghyeok. Among those who were frozen like Danmokbi, the first to move was my grandfather.

“Yeona! I explicitly opposed this, didn’t I? And now, in front of my eyes, you publicly express affection?”

“It’s just a kiss, what’s the big deal.”

“Just a kiss? Where in the world is there such a thing as ‘just a kiss’! I don’t even do that with your grandmother! Kick that guy out right away! Make sure he never sets foot in the Jegal family again!”

“Oh, Father. Please calm down! Of course, I agree with Father’s opinion!”

Although we were having a serious conversation for a rare moment, due to my grandfather’s raging, our conversation was momentarily interrupted.