[Harin-ah.]
[Are you doing well?]
[I have something to confess. I promised to wait for you for 10 years, but as soon as I returned, I made a girlfriend with pink hair.]
[A little while ago, I even went on a blind date with the youngest daughter of the Zhuge family. Currently, I’m living with both of them.]
[Will you forgive me?]
[With love, Kang Yoon-ho.]
I felt like I would receive urgent news that an enraged member of the Tang family was heading to Wuhan the moment I sent the letter, so it’s not like I was oblivious to the affections of the two women all this time.
Of course, they weren’t completely nonexistent.
I want to find the true heroine.
As a Reverse Heaven’s Decree user, I will save the cursed fates of the heroines. I won’t reject the affections of the women who have feelings for me.
I resolved to leave the Tang family, but faced with this situation, I couldn’t help but ponder.
Rejecting the affections of many women is my decision. But what about the opposite?
Will the women who have feelings for me be able to accept that?
Of course, there were methods.
Just like the woodcutter in the tale of the heavenly maiden, there’s a way to confess the truth when the situation deepens to a point where no further relationship can deepen, as if sneaking through a snake’s passage.
However, it wouldn’t do for the two in front of me to be treated that way.
I must speak now.
I lifted my head and looked at the two women staring at me blankly.
‘The Shadowless Thief Im Ha-yeon.’
After running around diligently, two choices were given to her.
Living as an ordinary courtesan with the help of the clan or becoming the Shadowless Thief.
If I hadn’t spoken the truth now, she would’ve undoubtedly become the Shadowless Thief without hesitation.
Would that be the right thing?
The thief who didn’t want to become one would surely tremble in betrayal upon hearing the news of my fiancée.
If she is a heroine, I should find a way to hold on to her anyway. But what I want to do is save the heroine’s fate, not ruin it.
Thus, confessing the truth in this situation was timely.
‘I’m in a contractual relationship with Zhuge Xiang,’
Is she really a heroine?
With her looks comparable to Im Ha-yeon and her many talents, she might be a character from an unachieved alternate route. But that is only a possibility.
What I know now is that she has developed feelings for me.
Watching her affections grow and bloom would also be a pleasure, but I already have women I must take responsibility for.
Of course, this doesn’t mean I will reject Miss Zhuge’s affections.
It’s just a different matter to like someone knowing such facts.
“I actually have a fiancée.”
Therefore, it was essential to tell both women at this point.
—
“No, are you joking?”
Zhuge Xiang asked me as if she couldn’t believe it.
“I’m not joking. I have a fiancée who is far away.”
As I denied it, this time Im Ha-yeon crossed her arms and asked me.
“Are you saying you can’t forget your childhood friend whom you promised to marry back in your hometown?”
Gah.
“N-no, that’s not it.”
I do have a childhood friend I promised my future to, but she’s not in my hometown; she’s in Salmak. It’s true she’s a childhood friend, but maybe not entirely.
It’s not a 100% correct answer. It’s a wrong answer.
“Then what is it? Tell me!”
Im Ha-yeon urged me desperately.
For now, let’s take a small breath. I should respond with a serious expression that doesn’t mix in a single lie.
“My fiancée is from the Sichuan Tang family.”
“Did the Tang family force you into an arranged marriage?”
Did she think there was something related to the illegitimate child of the Tang family? Im Ha-yeon looked at me, unable to close her mouth.
“She is a very distant collateral relative of the Tang family. But it was not forced. We pledged to marry of our own will.”
I shook my head.
“No. That can’t be true…”
“Why didn’t you say anything until now?”
Im Ha-yeon bit her lip and glared at me.
“I’ve been secretly receiving treatment from the Tang family for various reasons. It wasn’t something I could easily talk about until I noticed the feelings of the two of you.”
The one who was born from the Tang family’s biological experiments. Moreover, the Demonic Cult is also involved.
No matter how close the person is, it was not a topic that could be casually brought up.
“Y-you’re really engaged?”
“…It’s true.”
Im Ha-yeon stared into my eyes for a while, her face contorting in disbelief.
“I’m sorry. No matter the reason, I should have told you.”
No matter how much I excuse myself, the sinner doesn’t change. I bowed my head while kneeling before them.
A moment of silence.
The silence flowing between the three of us was hard to bear, even for someone prepared.
The cool night breeze from the Yangtze River swept through the mansion.
…It’s so suffocating.
I do have a fiancée, but it’s not the time to say, “Let’s all live well from now on.”
“Then, when we were on the terrace, were you whispering sweetly to me despite having a fiancée?”
After a moment of silence, a voice colder than the cool night breeze approached me.
“That’s right.”
The two women took a step closer to me.
“W-wait, Master Kang had a fiancée but still went on a matchmaker date with me?”
“Y-yes.”
“Even though you have a fiancée, you said you’d take responsibility in front of the others, right?”
“Y-yes.”
Why are they getting closer?
“You said let’s live together even though you have a fiancée?”
“Y-yep.”
I slowly lifted my head from where I was looking down to see the shoes of the two women.
The two women stood in front of me, blocking the moonlight.
“You.”
“Huh?”
Why do they all look so gloomy? Why do they all look like they’ve seen a ghost?
Let’s stay calm.
This is a process of stepping back for the trial.
I can explain everything.
“It’s true!”
“Oof!”
I got hit.
“M-Master Kang.”
Zhuge Miss can make that kind of face? But what is she holding in her hand?
“Z-Zhuge Miss. W-where did that iron fan come from?”
“Master Kang…! You are the enemy of women!”
In the end, I got hit more.
And then I was chased out.
———————
“Ouch, my body.”
In the end, I slept at the Yungi Inn.
“Consider yourself lucky that you weren’t torn in half.”
After learning the situation in general, An Suk-soo clicked his tongue and handed me breakfast while sitting on the first floor.
“Hahaha.”
“We’ve got beef soup and abalone porridge. Eat what you want and go back in to beg for forgiveness quickly.”
That’s right, An Suk-soo knows the deal. It’s delicious. When I tear the well-cooked kimchi over the porridge, it’s pure bliss.
“I don’t think they will forgive me.”
Who would’ve thought they’d punch me after reaching their limit? I completely forgot they were martial artists.
“You’re saying something ridiculous. Look at your younger sister’s face.”
“Huh?”
“That means, since you didn’t get a scratch on your face, they thought about you even when they were that angry.”
“Ah….”
Now that I think about it, my face is perfectly unscathed.
“This is just sad. Some get scolded even if they just come home after drinking.”
“An Suk-soo, everyone knows how well you and your wife get along.”
“Stop talking nonsense and go back and settle matters. Sometimes when anger cools, they might listen.”
Is it okay to wait another day or two? I feel like I’ll get hit more.
I nodded without showing my emotions and went up to my office.
——
“Is it a blessing I wasn’t split into five pieces?”
In fact, I already have a fiancée and a childhood friend I promised my future to. If the fact that I have a fiancée was revealed along with trying to create a girlfriend while still going on blind dates, it wouldn’t just end with me getting kicked out.
The affairs of the other two are matters that can’t be revealed more easily than the Tang family, so I thought it would be better to reveal the official relationship first.
Of course, I had calculated that once forgiven, repeating would be easier twice or three times.
“Huh? What’s this golden medicine on the desk?”
Upon opening the locked door of my office, there was a piece of golden medicine and a note I had never seen before on the desk.
[Use it.]
Was it brought by Ha-yeon? I felt a lingering affection in her indifferent writing.
“Is there still room for reconciliation?”
I sat on the bed and briefly looked at the golden medicine.
I have revealed my hidden confession.
Now, it’s a situation where I must accept whatever choice the two women make.
If both women truly leave me, could I accept it?
No matter how I feel about the two women, must I accept it?
There are still many things I haven’t said.
Maybe if you go to the Tea Bookstore and find someone you truly want as your woman, don’t hesitate.
Harin-ah. Can I really do this?
“A hero is three parts honest.”
Honestly, I don’t want to let go.
I will respect Im Ha-yeon and Zhuge Xiang’s decisions, but I don’t want to just sit like this.
So what should I do?
“Let’s just go ahead and be a hero.”
With determination, I charged in.
————————
As I knocked on the mansion door, the guard opened it for me.
Looks like I’m not banned from entering. Thank goodness.
Feeling a presence in the annex, I knocked on the door, but the presence disappeared with a small sound.
Ha-yeon. Is she not planning to meet yet? Then I have no choice but to head in another direction.
“Zhuge Xiang.”
Fortunately, I sensed a presence behind the door.
“…”
“I’m coming in.”
I carefully opened the door to the dark room.
“…Huh-huh-huh.”
Zhuge Xiang. Her soul seems to be slipping away! I stepped one foot into the room cautiously, making a coughing sound.
There was no response. She looked half dead.
Zhuge Xiang only let out eerie laughter at the sound of the door and didn’t even look at my direction.
“Zhuge Xiang, I will open the window.”
I hurriedly opened all the windows in the room for ventilation and light.
“Eek! Huh?! M-Master Kang?!”
Are you a child of darkness or what? Only now do you respond?
“I’m sorry. I know it’s inappropriate, but I came to apologize once more.”
I once again knelt before Zhuge Xiang.
“…”
“You must be disappointed. It’s natural for you to feel hurt asking how I could hide such a thing. Nevertheless, I felt I must stand before you and came.”
As I bowed my head, a brief yet significantly long silence passed.
“…I-You’ve really gone too far.”
What came out of Zhuge Xiang’s mouth wasn’t a refreshing curse or fierce anger, but a watery feeling of disappointment.
That hurt.
It’s more painful than where I was hit yesterday. But I can’t go on begging for forgiveness forever.
Since I decided to push ahead, let me brace myself against the arrows of blame that come pouring in.
“In fact, my fiancée is aware of it as well.”
Let’s start by stating the facts.
“Huh? My maternal grandfather knows?!”
“My fiancée is from the Tang family, and her late maternal grandfather is a close friend of Man Geum-jeon. Despite rejecting the matchmaking, he proceeded with it forcibly using the debt from the Tea Bookstore as leverage.”
It’s about explaining to her the hidden truth.
“That can’t be!”
“It’s the truth. And that’s why I suggested a contractual relationship to Zhuge Xiang. Neither of us had plans to marriage anyway.”
“Then… Does that mean everything until now…”
Her complexion darkened. Is she heading toward despair? I’m not trying to hit you with a wall saying I had no feelings.
Our relationship until now was created by Man Geum-jeon.
First demonstrating this and redirecting the arrows of blame toward Man Geum-jeon.
I cautiously looked at Zhuge Xiang.
If she continues to have feelings for me despite knowing the truth, I’m not going to refuse. Yet, since I’m not certain she is a heroine, it’s not the stage where I’ll forcefully hold on to her.
So what should I do?
“Let’s think of a trap.”
Not a fishing trap, rather a net trap.
If they know it’s a trap but still swim into it, it’s their fault.
“Though it may have started that way, from the next meeting onward, I wished to meet you of my own accord.”
“Huh?”
“I enjoyed conversing with the reader of my work, talking with a woman of similar interests, and having someone I could speak comfortably with. All of it was delightful.”
Let’s share honest emotions. I had a pretty good time. If I had no feelings, I would have avoided meeting.
“Ah….”
“Where else would I find a beautiful, talented, and capable woman to be my bride, someone who communicates with me well like Zhuge Xiang? I found myself waiting to meet Zhuge Xiang even after saying we were in a contractual relationship.”
“Huh-huh. I-I’m not that great…”
What do you know, you’re weak to compliments.
Since I set the trap, it’s time to lure the bait.
“My fiancée requires treatment for ten years.”
I feigned a pained expression, letting out the agonizing truth.
“Ten years?!”
“My fiancée cried out to give up on herself, but I pledged to wait for her for ten years. If we care for each other, then what’s ten years worth?”
“Ugh…”
Don’t shrink down so much at the mention of that fiancée.
“If you want, you can end this relationship.”
“End it, you say.”
“Man Geum-jeon admonished me. Is the man who has passed thirty years still not thinking of marriage? Everyone in this world will point fingers at you! It was surely sound advice.”
“Well, men who don’t marry until that age are usually monks or Taoist masters.”
“Yes, my fiancée said she didn’t mind if I take in another woman, and even introduced me to you to ease the burden of finding a woman to marry.”
A beautiful, talented, and capable woman to be my bride. I gave her a gentle look to remind her of the fact I just stated.
“She said I could take in another woman?”
There’s a reaction to the bait.
Now, let’s act like I’m baiting her into it.
“If Zhuge Xiang gives up, Man Geum-jeon won’t let it slide. He’ll probably arrange for me to marry another granddaughter of Man Geum-jeon.”
Even if you don’t fall into the trap, my outcome wouldn’t change.
I gazed affectionately at Zhuge Xiang and then turned my gaze to the windows, feigning an agonized expression as if I was marrying against my will.
I wonder how she’ll react.
With a tortured look, I waited for her answer as I looked out the window.
“…That, I don’t want.”
Zhuge Xiang said with a small yet firm voice.
“Zhuge Xiang.”
“P-Please give me just a little time.”
I nodded to Zhuge Xiang and left her room.
