Chapter 124 – Past (3)

If asked to pinpoint the happiest moment in one’s life,
it would undoubtedly be when devoting a lifetime to love, and receiving undeserved love from another.

Lee Se-young had once scoffed at such stories.

‘Busy just trying to survive, and yet they speak of love; where in this world can one find a person to truly trust? It’s a blessing if one can avoid being stabbed in the back.’

Nowadays, people engage in casual encounters, but seldom take them seriously.
They merely date to alleviate a fleeting sense of loneliness. It was a society that considered this normal, and it had been so for quite some time.

Marriage in this world could sometimes serve as a means, or even be utilized for criminal purposes.
An oath to dedicate one’s life could turn into a cruel falsehood.

Lee Se-young, a noblewoman, had been exposed to such pungent, sewer-like tales of love since her youth.
She herself had almost been used as a tool to forge connections between families.

Thus, her convictions were steadfast.

Romance in a fairy tale is only possible within its pages. It is recorded in books because it represents an ideal notion. How could there be love in the world that endures for so long? If it exists, it’s for the gullible fools.

That’s what she had believed…

‘I never imagined that I would become such a fool.’

Perhaps it was because she didn’t understand love. If asked how it felt to be that gullible fool, she had only one answer.

‘It felt awful.’

If she could go back in time, she would have been happy to embrace that person, even if it meant scolding herself.

Only now did she grasp that the moments of love are the happiest in life. Having never experienced true love since birth, how could she have known? The person who coined that adage must have led a truly remarkable life. She couldn’t help but be envious.

Upon reaching that conclusion, at some point, she came to understand.

If loving is the happiest moment, then the saddest moment in life is when you lose someone you love.

“Keep the secret. If he finds out, it’ll be a mess.”

With blurry eyes, Lee Se-young brought her lips to the teacup. The tea, just the right warmth after cooling slightly, carried a scent reminiscent of the azalea flowers before her.

A sweet floral fragrance with a hint of spiciness. Oak tree petals are not suited for tea-making. Not only is their scent mild, but it also tends to weaken and vanish during the steaming and drying process. For some reason, this fact left Lee Se-young feeling bitter.

“It’s nothing. I just thought Si-heon would need someone by his side when I die.”

Though Lee Si-heon had grown stronger, he still lived his daily life in a precarious situation where his survival was uncertain.

Lee Se-young had known about it for a long time. As a countermeasure, Heaven had suggested training Si-heon. Her opinion was sound, and Lee Si-heon had grown beyond recognition.

However, Se-Young’s approach was different.

“Because what I’m doing now, I don’t know when I’ll die.”

She insisted that she had to personally eradicate the root of the forces targeting Si-heon.

Having received genuine intentions, she too must reply with the same attitude. Azalea coldly observed Lee Se-Young, but she too couldn’t hide her discomposure.

Upon hearing the story, Azalea’s breath caught in her throat before finally being released.

“…You don’t know when you’ll die?”
“I told you all I was transferred, but that’s not really the case.”

The reason why Lee Se-Young left Lee Si-heon and went to a distant place—she never acted passively regarding the impending trials.

“With someone I know, I’ve managed to weed out all the forces currently targeting Si-heon.”

Lee Se-Young planned to join forces with the stars of the Hunter Union, investigate Flower internally, pinpoint the locations of the executives, and launch an extensive subjugation.

“Hiding within the Flower. I intended to extract and sort the information gathered from it, and then slowly devise a plan… It was never going to be easy.”

The plan was conceived with the assumption of death from the start.

Despite its slim chances, Byul, who was present at the time, bluntly asked Lee Se-Young if she had lost her mind.

– “Isn’t it a blessing not to die? Sigh. I wonder if she’s not insane. She’s been overdoing it since her time at the Academy.”
– “They say when you love someone, you start to resemble them.”
– “…Hey, do I love Si-heon too? Is that why I’m helping you with your work?”
– “Love is bullsh*t.”
– “Hmph.”

The day Lee Si-heon and Byul went on a blind date.
After that day, Lee Se-Young called Byul and brought up the conversation.

– “Se-Young… No matter how I think about it, you seem out of your mind. Do you know what they call people like you?”
– “The reassuring presence of an older figure?”
– “A fool, that’s what! You’re absolutely shameless.”
– “You’re no different.”
– “…True. Hmph.”

From that moment on, Lee Se-Young’s plan was gradually being executed.

For the sake of one whose life is in peril.

Upon hearing Se-Young’s words, Azalea fell silent for a moment, deep in contemplation. She soon set her teacup down and inquired further.

Azalea’s expression remained cold and resolute.

“…So?”
“That’s all.”

How wonderful it would be to have someone by one’s side to offer consolation even in death. The notion of Lee Si-heon increasing the number of women in his life reached this conclusion as his thoughts deepened.

Of course, Lee Se-Young’s thoughts were influenced in part by the differing concepts of sexuality between modern society and the world in which Lee Si-heon lived.

“Do you think it would be better if there were other women by his side, even in death?”

Se-Young nodded in response to Azalea’s words.

“It’s selfish, but yes.”

She made her judgments independently and acted according to her own desires. Lee Se-Young considered the possibility that if Lee Si-heon were to hear of her thoughts, in the worst-case scenario, he might try to distance himself emotionally from her.

Lee Se-young knew that she and Lee Si-heon were in a similar situation.

She didn’t mind if she died, but she didn’t want the other to die. If both thought that way… naturally, their relationship would grow distant.

“…I’m a bastard, too.”

With a voice heavy with regret, Lee Se-young murmured softly.

Perhaps if she had bluntly rejected his confession back then, none of this would have happened in the first place.

While slapping her cheek, she might have questioned his sanity. Had she scolded him for not speaking up earlier, their relationship would have ended appropriately. Then, Lee Se-young could have carried out her plan unhindered.

But she couldn’t. She was swept away by a moment’s emotion, acting unlike her mature self. Azalea could also guess the reason – because no one can be perfect.

“I can’t empathize.”

Despite hearing Lee Se-young’s inner thoughts, Azalea couldn’t sympathize with her.

I understand her inner thoughts and circumstances, but they were based on Lee Se-young’s standards.

It doesn’t change the fact that Lee Si-heon is being forced to do something he does not want.

“Still… I understand what you’re thinking.”

Azalea’s hands no longer trembled. On the contrary, her face seemed more relaxed. Had she completely sorted through her thoughts? Azalea spoke to Lee Se-young, who was smiling awkwardly, conveying the first thing that needed to be said.

“Both the professor and I… we acted according to our own wishes.”

If it had been her, she would have chosen Lee Si-heon even taking that into consideration. However, since it was merely a personal matter, Azalea didn’t feel the need to bring it up.

“Right now, there’s a lot to sort out. It’s deeply troubling and confusing.”

Both Azalea and Lee Se-young were women and entrepreneurs. Each person had a clearer sense of their own principles than anyone else. Even when it came to love, they stood firm in their convictions.

…Of course, both of them were still inexperienced in love, as it was their first.
In terms of businesses, it could be considered an undeveloped industry.
If Azalea was a passionate startup just beginning its venture, Lee Se-Young would be a steadily growing conglomerate.
It’s quite a humorous analogy.

– Thud.

Azalea drank the remaining tea heartily. The aroma of the tea leaves, emitting the fragrance of flowers, was rather luxurious.
It was evident that the brewer had put in a significant amount of time and effort to prepare it.

“…If you need help, just let me know. Our Jinmok Group will do its best to assist you. We’ll cover all costs, whether financial or otherwise.”

Azalea began to wrap up the conversation.
Firstly, she shared the initial thought that came to her mind while listening to Lee Se-Young.

“It’s comforting to hear that from someone who owns several companies.”
“And to get to the point…”

Azalea’s feelings towards Lee Se-Young had initially been anger, but now they had significantly subsided.
Her emotions had shifted from a state of complete confusion to a level of understanding, or even to a certain degree of admiration.

From the start, Azalea’s answer had already been predetermined.

“I can’t accept this approach.”
“I understand.”

Lee Se-Young nodded with a regretful smile.

“I’ll do it my way. I’m sorry. I’ll keep the secret.”

Perhaps more than she had thought, Lee Se-Young considered the possibility that she might be the one who cared for that person. And she found solace in the fact that such a person would be by his side even if she were to die.

“Take care.”

Azalea bowed her head, gathered her belongings, and stood up.

As she moved toward the entrance,

“Ah, should we engage in some small talk?”

Lee Se-Young halted her.

“I think it might be difficult, especially right after this conversation.”
“Tell me a bit about Si-heon, and let’s discuss business matters. Don’t you want to hear a story you’ve never known?”
“…….”

“If you lack experience, it might be difficult to be with Si-heon.”

A person like a cunning serpent. To build a friendship after such an uncomfortable conversation, and to do so with a rival, seemed unthinkable.

“No experience, you say?”
“Dragonfly.”
“What…?”

Lee Se-young emphasized the word ‘sleep’ and smirked. A sensation like a sharp jab in the chest. While her mood seemed to sour slightly, she was unknowingly swept up in the atmosphere. Azalea had felt this emotion once before when she had first met Lee Si-heon.

“I don’t think I can do it now. That’s enough.”

To prevent any further discussion, Azalea quickly left the room, carrying a small measure of jealousy, without waiting to be escorted out.

Lee Se-young, who had been watching Azalea’s retreating figure, lowered her head as soon as she left.

“…”

In her absence, only the now-cold flower tea remained, lonely and forlorn.

What to say… Her thoughts deepened.

In the midst of it all, I spoke my mind without restraint, leaving nothing unsaid. Should I say it’s like a weight has been lifted?

Exhausted after an intense bout of emotional immersion, Lee Se-Young heaved a sigh.

– Did you ever truly like him in the first place?

Even for the normally cool-headed Se-Young, those words were difficult to hear.

“…How am I supposed to explain this to Si-heon? Heh-heh.”

She attempted a carefree laugh.

“But it seems like Azalea really does like him… How on earth did she manage to win him over?”

She even offered praise in a place where Azalea couldn’t hear her. Yet, the more she spoke, the more miserable Lee Se-Young felt.

Though it was merely a matter of love’s course, the aspect Azalea had touched upon resembled the very turmoil she had been trying to avoid. She didn’t believe the path she had paved was wrong. Even if she could go back in time, Se-Young’s actions would likely remain unchanged.

– If you truly care for him that much, just accept his confession and stay by his side for the rest of your life.

“……”

Se-Young gently touched the ring on her index finger without uttering a word. The ring, given to her by Lee Si-heon, was more precious than anything else she possessed and had never left her side.

Secretly slipping it onto the ring finger of her left hand, Se-Young brought her hand to her face.

It was the path she had chosen.