The Empire's Servant - Chapter 14

It was a place the servant had never been to before.

It was a place found by searching for wine-selling locations near Seoul and clicking on the last posted article.

It was a wine bar with large glass windows in a hanok.

In the darkness, the place shone even brighter. The rain added to the ambiance, but there were no people.

Whether it was due to accessibility or the weather, it seemed to work out well.

Ha In entered the wine bar.

With each step on the wooden floor, there was a slight creaking sound, not uncomfortable.

An elderly owner guided them to a seat. The white hair suited the old man well.

“This is why I can’t close the door, rain or shine. This is also fate. Nice to meet you.”

It was an unusually sincere greeting. It seemed possible in a place without many customers.

“Ah, yes.”

Due to Ha In’s personality, she couldn’t take the kindness lightly and felt awkward.

“The seat, the seat. That’s the best spot over there.”

The old man guided them to seats side by side, facing the window.

Ha In looked at the seats the old man pointed to but couldn’t readily agree.

There was a long table with long chairs arranged to face the window.

The furniture was splendid, but it wasn’t suitable for sitting side by side with Je Guk and chatting.

“Ah, today is a business meeting.”

Ha In expressed it in a roundabout way, feeling troubled.

“If you only came for business, you wouldn’t have come here. This place isn’t for doing business. It’s for resting.”

Ha In was the one who chose this as the meeting place, so she was startled when the old man said that.

“Still…”

“Yes, please give us that spot.”

As Ha In was about to ask for a different seat, someone answered from behind.

It was Je Guk’s voice.

Ha In was startled by the sound and turned around.

“Ah, you’re here.”

Ha In wondered how much of the conversation he had heard and felt embarrassed, worrying he might misunderstand.

The old man placed a few candles on the wooden table by the glass window.

“What are you doing standing there? Let’s sit. I didn’t know there was a place like this in Seoul.”

Je Guk took the lead.

Ha In just blinked, standing there, then put aside her embarrassment and followed Je Guk.

There was a long bench facing the window. Je Guk sat down and looked up at Ha In.

“Are you going to listen standing up? I have a lot to talk about today.”

Ha In hid her embarrassment and sat next to Je Guk.

Sitting down, the view through the glass window became a painting.

“What would you like to order?”

The old man came to take their order.

“A wine with a strong body.”

Je Guk glanced at Ha In as if asking what she would order.

“Same for me.”

The old man smiled and nodded.

“People don’t like chairs without backrests. But I only bring chairs without backrests. Lean on each other, not the chairs.”

Ha In couldn’t hide her embarrassment at the old man’s philosophy.

She and Je Guk weren’t in a relationship to lean on each other.

Although she owed him and might be indebted to him in the future, she never thought of leaning on each other.

“Sir, we…”

Ha In tried to explain that it wasn’t like that. Then Je Guk stepped in for her.

“Ah, is that so? Knowing the meaning, even the wooden chairs feel soft. Thank you.”

Je Guk responded to the old man’s kindness in a gentlemanly manner.

Ha In found his composure very impressive.

With full-bodied wine placed in front of them, it no longer seemed like a meeting.

Je Guk and Ha In looked out the window.

The reflection of the two sitting side by side appeared on the glass window. The awkwardness was indescribable.

Soft record music was playing, but Ha In couldn’t hear it, feeling too embarrassed in this situation.

“You’re smart.”

Je Guk’s words broke the silence.

“Pardon?”

Ha In raised her eyebrows, curious about the meaning of his words.

“You seem to be good at finding places where it’s hard to get angry.”

Je Guk held the base of the wine glass, swirling it, and spoke half-jokingly, half-seriously.

Ha In had never been here either, so she was startled by the current situation. She had tried to get Je Guk drunk but ended up facing a backlash.

“But I don’t like being easily swayed by the atmosphere. I prefer to lead the mood.”

Saying that, Je Guk took a sip of wine.

Ha In also drank the wine, her mouth dry. The full-bodied wine thickly coated her mouth.

“Since we met knowing each other’s situations, let’s skip the introduction. What are your plans going forward?”

Returning to the main topic, Ha In regained her senses.

“I already told you.”

Ha In’s intention remained the same. Je Guk took a deep breath and drank another sip of wine.

“I don’t understand why a smart person is acting like this. You’re not the type to enjoy taking risks.”

Je Guk’s voice was soft, befitting the place, but there were thorns hidden inside.

“I think I’ve already sufficiently conveyed my intention.”

Ha In was curious about what decision Je Guk had made before coming, but she didn’t rush even that.

“Hmm.”

Je Guk continued to swirl the glass, pondering.

Each time his fingertips moved, the dark purple wine rippled against the glass wall and flowed down. After repeating this a few times, he stopped his hand.

“Alright, I will help as Prosecutor Cheon Ha In wishes.”

Hearing the welcome answer, Ha In turned her head to look at Je Guk. Je Guk was still staring straight ahead.

“But not Cheonha Group.”

Je Guk firmly finished his words and shifted his gaze to Ha In.

“If you touch Cheonha Group, I don’t know what kind of defense I’ll have to make. It could be an attack, not a defense.”

Ha In felt the sincerity in Je Guk’s eyes.

But there was something that needed to be clarified. Ha In felt it was unfair to describe it as her destroying Cheonha Group.

“It’s not me who will destroy Cheonha Group, it’s probably Hyun Baek Hap.”

“I know, why wouldn’t I know that? But if Prosecutor Cheon Ha In rushes in without regard for means and methods, you could take Cheonha Group hostage and cause damage, couldn’t you?”

The more Hyun Baek Hap tries to resist, the more Cheonha Group will be ruined. That’s exactly what Je Guk was concerned about.

So, rather than that, he suggested providing the evidence Ha In wants while minimizing the bleeding that will occur to Cheonha Group.

“I will provide the materials that Prosecutor Cheon Ha In can’t obtain no matter how much she knocks on Cheonha Group’s door.”

Je Guk’s determination was welcome, but there was no reason for him to provide those materials for free.

Unlike in the past, Ha In was no longer young, and Je Guk had never wronged Ha In, then or now.

“There is one condition.”

As expected, there was a condition attached. Ha In decided to hear it out first.

“Please block what you can block on Prosecutor Cheon Ha In’s side.”

Je Guk was serious to the point of being solemn about the fate of Cheonha Group.

Ha In also knew well how much affection he had for Cheonha Group. So she knew that what he was saying now wasn’t a light deal.

“I don’t know if I have the power to do that.”

It was sincere. She was someone who struggled to protect herself, so she wasn’t in a position to protect anyone.

“If you didn’t have the confidence, you shouldn’t have taken on the challenge.”

Je Guk’s words had a sharp edge.

“I think our Cheonha Group is worth at least as much as Prosecutor Cheon Ha In’s revenge. What do you think?”

Ha In couldn’t deny Je Guk’s words. And it wasn’t reasonable to rely blindly on Je Guk alone.

“If you can’t do it even now, say so.”

Je Guk stared at Ha In and spoke.

Ha In swallowed nervously, trying to hide her trembling heart.

Just considering the investigation progress Ha In was aware of, it was worrisome how much influence Hyun Baek Hap had within Cheonha Group.

“Are you scared?”

Ha In was embarrassed to have her feelings exposed and blinked rapidly.

“No. It’s not like that.”

She was just burdened by the worry of not being able to do it well.

“You haven’t answered yet.”

If she said she couldn’t do it here, the deal would be off.

Ha In realized she had virtually no choice.

“I will do it.”

Ha In answered clearly, fixing her wavering eyes.

If it was to obtain what she wanted, it wasn’t something she couldn’t endure.

Je Guk finally relaxed his stiff expression and raised his glass.

“What are you doing? Raise your glass.”

As if drawn by his eyes, Ha In raised her glass. The two glasses clinked together, creating a deep resonance.

Je Guk tilted his glass first. Ha In also turned her head and drank the wine.

After drinking the wine, Je Guk looked straight ahead again. The stunning scenery outside the window filled his eyes.

“This place is really great for taking a break.”

Ha In felt a pang. It seemed Je Guk had heard the entire conversation between Ha In and the owner.

“It’s nice.”

Je Guk took a deep breath, showing a satisfied expression that ended with a bitter look.

Seeing his face, Ha In felt a little sorry inside. She wondered if her revenge was tormenting him.

“Let’s make one request.”

Je Guk suddenly said he would make a request.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Until the last day, stay well hidden.”

It seemed to mean not to be noticed by Hyun Baek Hap.

Je Guk was inwardly concerned about Ha In’s well-being.

Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman

When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…

One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.

Synopsis

During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.

Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.

Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”

Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.

Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”

With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.

Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?

He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”

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