Now that he thought about it, his stomach had been hurting since he started eating the appetizers. It was clear that the sauce in the salad was also milk-based.

‘…Darn it.’

Kang Ihyeon had a severe milk allergy.

Originally, it wasn’t that severe, but due to Grandfather’s insistence that “eating will make it better,” he had been continuously eating dairy products since childhood. Now, he immediately reacted upon intake.

Archangel Raphael, the healer, couldn’t cure everything.

Allergies, for example, were not completely cured. It only alleviated severe symptoms.

“Usually, allergies get better when you eat. Are you completely recovered now?”

He felt like vomiting already. But for now, he had to finish eating.
If not, who knows what else might be said. Kang Ihyeon laughed like that.

“Yes, thanks to you, Grandfather, I’ve gotten much better.”

He had to endure it. Nari also endured. So, he had to endure it too.

Thinking like that, Kang Ihyeon tightly gripped the knife. The tips of his fingers turned white.

Seeing that, Grandfather smiled satisfactorily.

After emptying even the dessert that made his stomach churn just by looking at it, as family members began to leave their seats one by one, Grandfather spoke.

“Ihyeon. This year, your father will stay here until the national funeral. It’s an opportunity for you and the eldest grandson to talk privately. I’ve called many stylists since I’ve prepared a lot.”

“… Yes, Grandfather. Then, may I go to the room first? I want to see the room I used before.”

“Sure, you’ve worked hard. Rest.”

Damn, damn, damn. Kang Ihyeon, who swallowed those thoughts, smiled.

Going up to the penthouse’s duplex, Kang Ihyeon immediately entered the room he used before once the door closed.

As soon as the door closed, he quickly headed to the bathroom.

“Uh… ugh… uh…”

Having vomited everything he ate, Kang Ihyeon lay on the bed, his complexion turned pale.

[The Seat, the Staff of Purification, still strokes Kang Ihyeon’s head, saying he did well.]

“Yes…”

Sometime, Grandfather had developed a habit of vomiting immediately after eating food with milk when it was served by Grandfather.
Timely, Seonghwa turned his body to prevent his neck from swelling. The rumbling in his stomach also gradually subsided.

“Grandfather… trying to kill the only eldest grandson.”

If Seongryeok hadn’t returned, he would have really died. Even before contracting with Raphael, there had been times when he was taken to the emergency room.

Lying down, half-jokingly, Kang Ihyeon slowly took off his suit jacket, gazing at the ceiling. A sigh involuntarily escaped, wondering how long he had to live like this.

[The Seat, the Staff of Purification, looks at you with concern, saying you shouldn’t just ignore Grandfather.]

“Probably.”

Probably not.

If Kang Ihyeon stopped obeying, Grandfather would undoubtedly torment those around him. Kang Sujin, Min Jaewon, Min Jaeyun, and now even Mr. Rood.

“So you have to endure…”

While laughing off the concern that his Seat was worrying too much, a sound rang out. Kang Ihyeon’s eyes widened as he checked his phone.

“… It’s Nari.”

A messenger had arrived first. It was the first time he had received a messenger asking about his well-being for no apparent reason.

Unconsciously, Kang Ihyeon continued with a smiling response.

[The Seat, the Staff of Purification, looks at you with an expression asking what will happen if Grandfather obtains the data.]

“It’s okay. The data is deleted at regular intervals, so Mr. Rood won’t know.”
Despite the Seat’s concerns, Kang Ihyeon continued with the messenger without paying any attention. However, he momentarily paused, thanks to Nari’s last message.

[Do you want to hang out if you’re the only one happy?]

“…….”

Kang Ihyeon couldn’t respond to that message. Even when the Seat indirectly sent messages asking why, he remained silent.

Kang Ihyeon’s eyes squinted halfway.

“… I’m fine with it.”

He hesitated to reply, closing his eyes. Kang Ihyeon silently swallowed the words that Grandfather might not like. He wanted to enjoy a pleasant time without caring about such matters, as suggested by the Archangel. But would that be possible? He had to endure various inconveniences here to protect his aunt, and Jaewon, Jaeyun, and also to ensure Nari’s safety. Otherwise, he didn’t know where Grandfather’s anger might be directed.

As he was about to slowly formulate a refusal, a sound rang out – it was a phone call.

“Huh?”

Perhaps, worried that he was late for responding, Kang Ihyeon, who was about to give a concise answer, picked up the phone.

Considering that Aunt had talked to Nari about eavesdropping, she might have called him, taking that into account.

“Hello? Nari?”

[Hey, why didn’t you reply?]

“Oh, um, I’m at Grandfather’s place. He called me for a moment.”

Ah, he heard a voice understanding that.
It seems like, thanks to Aunt, Nari also realized that Grandfather is not a very good person.

Feeling a sense of embarrassment, Kang Ihyeon tightly gripped his own clothes.

[Then can’t you come right now?]

“Yes……. I’m sorry for making you worry. Actually, I hesitated a bit because I’m at Grandfather’s place.”

[Okay. Well then. I’m fine. But why does your voice sound like that?]

“Yes?”

Kang Ihyeon absentmindedly touched his throat.

As the recovery speed of allergy reactions was slightly slower, his throat was still quite swollen.

[It seems like your throat is extremely swollen?]

“Ah……. Well, this is…”

Nari remained silent for a moment across the phone. She was really quick to pick up on such things.

Shortly after joining, didn’t she switch the milk Latte brought to him to soy or oat milk after seeing his allergic reaction to dairy products?

[You… did you have milk?]

“……Yes.”

Kang Ihyeon felt he couldn’t deceive Nari. She spoke with an expression that she didn’t understand, prompting Kang Ihyeon to explain.

[Why? No way. If you have people around you with allergies, you should know. You’re also extremely cautious, and your grandfather wouldn’t not know about it…]

Nari didn’t say anything after that. Kang Ihyeon suppressed the feeling that he might cry. Nari spoke urgently.

[Where is your grandfather’s house?]

“Nari, I’m okay. Really.”

[Hurry up and tell me. Before I get angry.]