It was a day when Seo Yeon’s mother was bustling about to find a marriage partner.

Her mother, who had come to meet Seo Yeon after work, grabbed her hand and said, “A marriage partner has been decided.”

It was the brightest expression among her mother’s expressions seen in the past year. Who could it be that made her mother so happy? As if answering Seo Yeon’s curiosity, she asked with a gentle smile.

“Aren’t you curious who it is?”

“Yes. Who is it?”

She nodded and thought.

It seems this time her mother had found a man who met her desired conditions.

Seo Yeon was an excellent product that could be sold at a high price in the marriage market, and she had just entered the prime age for marriage.

How many men had she met for arranged marriages over the past few months? During those numerous meetings, she had never seen her mother with such a satisfied expression.

It was a common strategic marriage, and since it was inevitable no matter who the marriage partner turned out to be, there was no need to be surprised.

Thinking that way made it bearable and helped to steel her resolve.

“Tae Seong Jun of the Hankyung Group.”

However, contrary to her determination, the moment she heard the name of her marriage partner, Seo Yeon’s mouth opened slightly. Tae Seong Jun? Tae Seong Jun…

“They contacted us first.”

Tae Seong Jun was the grandson of the Hankyung Group representing South Korea and a promising future successor.

She smiled calmly to avoid showing a disheveled appearance in front of her mother, but it was difficult to act naturally at the name of such an overwhelming match.

“He’ll be a strong backing for both you and your elder brother. It’s a really good thing. Don’t you think so?”

Certainly. If it was the Hankyung Group, it would clearly provide a solid foundation when Seo Yeon’s elder brother, a nationally popular star prosecutor, entered politics.

Her elder brother had always said his final destination was Yeouido, and her parents had always supported his choice.

Yes. For her parents and elder brother, Seong Jun was the best marriage partner.

But when she thought about whether this situation was pleasing to herself, the answer was ‘no’. After all, a high position demands that much more responsibility. Somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was an overwhelming match.

On the day of the arranged meeting.

Seo Yeon arrived at the hotel earlier than the appointed time and waited for Seong Jun. It was said to be the most expensive hotel in South Korea. How much time had passed like that?

“Han Seo Yeon?”

Seo Yeon raised her head at the low flowing voice.

Where her gaze fell, a handsome man who looked like a finely carved sculpture at first glance was standing, staring intently at her.

A person with an overwhelming presence even when standing still. That was the thought that came to Seo Yeon’s mind the moment she first saw him. Seong Jun raised his wrist to glance at his watch.

“You came out earlier than the appointment time.”

Seong Jun, who was looking down at her with his head slightly tilted, asked.

“Did I perhaps get the appointment time wrong?”

Seo Yeon shook her head, omitting the fact that she had come to the appointment place early because it was better than being with her mother who kept pressuring her by repeating that she hoped the arranged meeting would somehow be successful.

“No. I came out early.”

Hearing Seo Yeon’s answer, Seong Jun held out his hand.

“I see. I’m Tae Seong Jun.”

Seo Yeon carefully grasped Seong Jun’s hand. His large, manly hand firmly enveloped Seo Yeon’s.

Without letting go of Seo Yeon’s hand, Seong Jun said.

“It’s been a while since we’ve met.”

Seo Yeon’s eyes widened.

“Six months ago, you went down to Busan, right?”

“Yes. I had a piano concert.”

“I was at that venue.”

“How…?”

As if her surprised reaction was what he had expected, Seong Jun smiled broadly.

“I went down for a meeting with a business partner, and I remembered there was a concert, so I dropped by. The conductor was an alumnus from my school.”

Enough time had passed, but Seong Jun still hadn’t let go of Seo Yeon’s hand. He had no intention of letting go and was just staring intently into Seo Yeon’s eyes.

“I see.”

Seo Yeon felt her heart flutter for some reason. She couldn’t tell if it was because of the persistent gaze of the man overflowing with dignity and sensuality, or because of his large hand that still hadn’t let go.

It was the first time someone had stared so intently into her eyes like Seong Jun, and of course, the first time a man had held her hand without letting go.

The one who retreated first, quietly pulling her hand away, was Seo Yeon.

If she had kept holding hands any longer, she felt like her heart would burst from tension. Seong Jun gave her a brief look and then sat down obediently.

Somehow, feeling flustered at the thought that it seemed like she had rejected Seong Jun from her side, Seo Yeon suddenly asked, looking at Seong Jun as a familiar melody penetrated her ears.

“Do you like Chopin?”

“I always enjoy Chopin.”

It was just a question to recover from the awkward atmosphere, but Seong Jun took Seo Yeon’s lead and led the conversation on the topic of music. It was naturally a familiar and enjoyable subject for Seo Yeon, whose major was piano.

‘I was worried about what to talk about, but…’

It was around the time the conversation topic had moved from Chopin to Mozart and then to Beethoven. Seong Jun looked around once and asked.

“Have you ever come to this hotel before? For an arranged meeting, perhaps.”

Seo Yeon could tell intuitively. He’s asking knowing everything already. Seo Yeon stared at Seong Jun as if demanding an explanation. Seong Jun smiled and answered.

“I’m also an alumnus with the hotel’s representative.”

She couldn’t tell if it was a joke or the truth.

Someone in Seong Jun’s position would have gathered sufficient information about his arranged meeting partner before contacting, so it seemed more likely to be the former. But even if it was Tae Seong Jun’s light joke, it was enough to embarrass Seo Yeon.

She felt uneasy about having met another man for an arranged meeting at the same place. Although today’s appointment time and place were set by Seong Jun’s side, not Seo Yeon, somehow she felt like a scoundrel.

“I heard you had several arranged meetings in a short time. Is there any reason you need to rush into marriage?”

“It’s because of age. They say now is the best age to get married.”

Seong Jun frowned as if he had heard something absurd. Then he said with a puzzled look.

“Seo Yeon is far too young to rush into marriage.”

24 years old. Certainly, Seo Yeon also thought she was young. But her parents’ thoughts were different, hoping she would marry at the youngest and prettiest age to form a beneficial marriage connection for her elder brother.

It was her parents who demanded she go on arranged meetings, and it was also her parents who rejected the suitors.

Seo Yeon didn’t want to explain the complicated family situation to a man she was meeting for the first time, so she just answered with a brief smile.

“I heard from my mother. That Hankyung contacted us first. May I ask why it was me specifically?”

Seong Jun seemed to find Seo Yeon’s question unexpected, as he put down his wine glass and quietly looked at her. He made a contemplative expression for a moment before opening his mouth candidly.

“Seo Yeon has the most ideal conditions for the daughter-in-law my grandfather has in mind.”

“Ah.”

“I’ve agreed to obediently listen to my grandfather’s words until I complete the proper succession process and become the heir. That’s why Han Seo Yeon’s conditions are necessary.”

“…”

“Was I too honest?”

A bitter smile spread across Seo Yeon’s face.

“Yes.”

However, she quickly composed her expression and spoke in a calm voice.

“But I prefer honesty. I didn’t come out to hear absurd things like it was love at first sight or that I’m your ideal type.”

“…”

After that, the conversation suddenly stopped. Puzzled, Seo Yeon examined his expression. Seong Jun was looking at Seo Yeon with an expressionless face.

When he smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth, he was dazzlingly charming, but with an expressionless face, he had an extremely cold impression. The gentle atmosphere from earlier was nowhere to be found.

Somehow, Seo Yeon felt that this cold and detached face was that man’s true expression. Whether he smiled or was expressionless, the pressure emanating from him was suffocating to the other person all the same.

After a while, Seong Jun, who had been staring intently at her, lifted the corners of his mouth.

“I’ll interpret it as Seo Yeon also came to this meeting because you liked my conditions.”

It was a very subjective interpretation, but she couldn’t say it wasn’t true. And once again, Seong Jun’s barrage of difficult-to-answer questions continued.

“Do you have any wishes for your future husband?”

Seo Yeon was taken aback. What kind of question is this?

“I haven’t really thought about that.”

The marriage was purely driven by her family’s wishes. To Seo Yeon, it was like an unavoidable duty. It wasn’t particularly enjoyable, so she hadn’t thought about it. Seong Jun, who had been lost in thought for a moment at her answer, asked.

“Then let’s change the question. After marriage, how would you like to live, Seo Yeon?”

She couldn’t answer that she didn’t know again.

“Ordinarily.”

It was an answer that omitted saying she wanted to enjoy the ordinary happiness that normal people enjoy, but it was Seo Yeon’s true feeling.

“I want to live an ordinary life.”

Tilting his chin to the side and slowly inclining his head, Seong Jun said.

“The daughter-in-law of the Hankyung Group won’t be able to live ordinarily, though.”

“That’s true.”

It certainly was. That’s why she had felt uncomfortable thinking it was too good a match for her. But now her thoughts had changed a little.

If it was an unavoidable marriage anyway, it seemed better to marry someone charming like Seong Jun who met her parents’ expectations. Moreover, he had honestly said he liked Seo Yeon’s conditions.

So Seo Yeon decided to gather courage and speak her honest feelings too.

“I hope he won’t betray me.”

“…?”

“You asked earlier what kind of husband I want.”

“Not to betray you. Is that all?”

Seong Jun responded to Seo Yeon’s answer as if it was absurd.

“It might be a difficult issue to keep. If as a husband, he doesn’t betray and shows trust, I won’t give up on that person who has become my family first either.”

After answering that far, Seo Yeon made an ‘oops’ expression.

She didn’t understand why she had said such things, swept up in the atmosphere, to a man she had just met. Seong Jun, who had been staring at Seo Yeon’s face for a long time, lowered his gaze. Where his gaze fell was on Seo Yeon’s hand.

“Why are you looking like that?”

Flustered, Seo Yeon asked while covering her hand with the other. Still not taking his eyes off her hand despite Seo Yeon’s question, he answered.

“I think I need to know your ring size.”

“What?”

Having said that, Seong Jun met Seo Yeon’s gaze again.

“Next time we meet, I’ll bring a ring. The most expensive and flashy ring that suits Seo Yeon.”

Seo Yeon’s eyes trembled at the intense gaze that was startling.