7. Human or Good Man (17)
It did not take long for the news to spread throughout Liyue that one of the Seven Stars of Liyue was under house arrest. . The matter was that serious and it was a shocking incident. Even in Liyue’s long, thousands of years of history, the number of times the country’s leaders were detained was numerous.
In the beginning, Chilseong, the leader of Li Yue, was chosen by the King of Darkness. Emperor Amwang always made the right decisions, so the Liyue Chilseong he selected had to be qualified to do so. At least that is what the people of Liyue have believed until now.
However, after the sudden death of King Empress, the common sense of Liyue people was being challenged. The King of Darkness also dies. He is not immortal, he is just a living being. Therefore, his choice may not be perfect either. Ok Seong-seong’s detention was a major incident that ignited such chaos.
Jade Seongseong, who was trusted by King Amwangjegun, may be related to the assassination incident. These suspicions decisively shook the authority of King Amwangjegun and his representative, Chilseong, which were already shaken. Eung-gwang thought she had made the best move, but there was also the fact that it was strangling her neck.
Of course, there was almost no political impact that Eung-gwang had to bear. Even if the authority of Liyue Chilseong was shaken, the reason was because he was already regarded as a member of each government. Rather, Eung-gwang received sympathetic looks from the public simply because of the fact that she was in conflict with Si-woo, who was rumored to be having an affair with each office.
It was a ridiculous misconception that she had been struggling to protect Li Yue alone all this time. But whatever the truth, if the public believed it, it was the truth for a while. In this way, Eung-gwang cleverly used each government office as a scapegoat and succeeded in strengthening his own political position.
However, this was only a story limited to an individual named Eung-gwang. Whether he liked it or not, Yingguang was a member of the national leadership called ‘Liyue Seven Stars’, and if that authority was shaken, he could not help but be affected in some way.
It was Siwoo who dug into that gap. At this moment, all common sense is challenged, and even Li Yue Chil-seong, who has been acting as the representative of the King of Darkness, cannot be trusted. Xiu fueled the anxiety of the people of Liyue by concluding an unexpected alliance called the ‘Tripartite Alliance’.
No one can protect Li Yue. Emperor Amwang is dead, and Li Yue Chilseong cannot be trusted either. At that time, the emergence of a new power with military force and capital was causing fear throughout Liyue. Now, the fight between Siwoo and Eunggwang was not just a competition for bidding rights. It is becoming a battle for the fate of the nation.
At this point, even small and medium-sized merchants who had been weighing profits and losses by flipping the abacus had no choice but to cower. Eung-gwang and Si-woo, no matter which side won, the destruction of the other was almost certain. And the winner will take possession of Liyue’s throne. The stakes were too high to take anyone’s side.
Eng Guang’s thoroughness was already famous, and there was no naive merchant in Liyue who believed that the large foreign capital that infiltrated by taking advantage of the national crisis was benevolent. The moment we took the loser’s side, it was the end, and it was a natural conclusion that we would no longer be able to do business with a signboard in Liyue. Such a sense of crisis forced silence in the Liyue commercial world even though great turmoil was raging throughout the area.
It was such a time of confusion. A woman was sighing in her mansion located on Yujingdae, the highest point in Liyue, where the storms of the times raged. As she let out her sorrowful breath, she was a person who could be said to be one of the cores of the storm that was currently hitting Liyue.
Ok brother of the Seven Saints of Liyue, a man of great standing who rose to the position of overseeing the land and architecture of Liyue at the age of just over 20. She, who was called a ‘workaholic’ and a ‘genius’ in the public, was the one who was detained in her home due to the conspiracy of ‘Gakcheong’, Eung-gwang and Gam-woo.
It has already been a month since he was detained at home, and each office looked surprisingly calm. It was worth it. After taking the position of Jade Formation, she was obsessed with work all day long, except when she was sleeping. There were too many days when she had to sleep for just a few minutes because she had so much work to do.
In the meantime, she was forcibly suspended from her authority as a prisoner and placed under arrest at her home, which allowed her to regain some of her freedom.
It was a leisurely time, not even knowing it was my first vacation in several years. There was no reason for each office not to enjoy it. Of course, if it had been a previous office, it might not have shown such a relaxed attitude. There was nothing she could do in her confinement, without any powers, for she had too many problems to solve.
But now it was different. Her office was not alone, and what she could not do she had to entrust to her comrades. That strange sense of security warmed the hearts of each office. She had regained her composure after a long time and her sharp mind was thinking about something endlessly, as was her habit.
Most of them were thoughts about a certain man. Before she knew it, the person who had burrowed into her heart had become an indispensable person to her. At first it was just interest, but before she knew it, her mind was so full of thoughts about him that she had no time to think of anything else.
Even while lying in bed, watering the plants, or taking a walk in the yard, Gakcheong would often blankly think of a certain man. Since he had nothing to do, he had no choice but to become more absorbed in such thoughts. Although she was barely over twenty at most, her first love had a blind side.
It was still the same now. Gakcheong thought of a certain man again and let out a sorrowful sigh. He comes to mind all the time. Even though he is aware of the fact, he can’t do anything about it. Gakcheong muttered in a dazed voice.
“…… “I must be crazy.”
Why do you think of that person even when you don’t do anything, and why does the thought of it make you feel good even though a part of his heart throbs. The pounding heart and the delusions that unfolded as they pleased were all very unfamiliar experiences to each office.
It seemed as if each office’s heart was still staying in the same place. Memories of the rainy day, the day I buried my face in Siwoo’s arms and cried. Every time he thought about it, he would kick the blanket with shame that would make his heart tingle, but deep down he knew that the tingling sensation was not just shame.
The clocks of each office stopped that day. The hour, minute, and second hands lined up and seemed to point only to the memories of that day. It was funny, but it was only after Gakcheong became most sober that he realized that it was his love. This was the conclusion she came to after being detained at her home and having no choice but to repeat her reasons.
She was my first love, I thought it was someone else’s story about the fever of love. On days when each office happened to read a romance novel, they would scoff and immediately close the book. This was because no matter how strong the emotion love was, each office could not sympathize with it.
A merchant must not lose sight of the scale in all situations. It was the same even if it was love. Moreover, Gacheng was the type of person called a genius and was also an influential politician in Liyue. A woman like that is in love with her first love and breathing sweetly.
Isn’t she literally the woman from a romance novel, her head a flower garden? Gakcheong, who was thinking such thoughts while hugging her pillow, eventually collapsed onto the bed with a loud sound. He felt like he had a fever coming from his forehead.
“It’s really crazy, what’s so great about that playboy… ….”
Muttering that, Gakcheong let out a small sigh again. Actually, she knew it too. At her most vulnerable moment, she might give up a piece of her heart to the man who broke through the walls of her heart. This was not a matter of emotion, but a logical conclusion.
So, I could understand why each office fell in love with Si-woo after giving in a hundred times. However, what Gakcheong couldn’t handle was the fact that the magnitude of the emotion was bigger than expected and he was only thinking about Siwoo all day long. To be honest, it hurt my pride.
I’ve never imagined myself dating her, but I still thought that if I were to date her, it would naturally be with someone who loved her. It was natural. Because Gakcheong himself never imagined that he would fall in love with someone first.
So, the picture of her love that each person portrayed was one in which she generously accepted her partner’s feelings, and was definitely not a picture of her being infatuated with someone and moaning. If Siwoo clung to him, he clung to him. Why should Gakcheong cling to him?
Gakcheong was the successor of a prestigious family, had a lot of money, and was also talented. His status was also one of Li Yue’s top officials, and he was full of potential spouses. And although she said it herself, Gakcheong was prettier than anything else. When viewed objectively, he is someone men should hang themselves against.
Of course, Siwoo was not a bad man. First of all, he wasn’t that interested, but he was handsome, had a lot of money, and was very capable. That decisive look, the gentleness that subtly cares for others, and the embrace of Siwoo that day. Ah, that was good… He was nice and kind. How can you not love a man like this…….
“…… Ah.”
It was around that time that each office came to its senses. She stiffened in shock at the series of accidents that followed, but then let out a moan as if she were indignant.
“Ugh, ugh! Why do I have to fall in love first…….”
It was unfair. Siwoo might not be thinking about her by now. Rather, he might have gone somewhere and seduced another woman. However, it was somewhat unfair that each office was alone in thinking of Si-woo. At least that is what each office felt.
However, such pink thinking of each office did not last long. Soon her familiar voice reached her ears, and at that moment, each Cheong’s body became stiff.
“…… “What do you think?”
The voice seemed somewhat indifferent, but it did not mean indifference. She said men always talked to her like that. It was a voice she couldn’t wait to hear just a moment ago, and the moment Gakcheong heard those words, she felt her hair bleaching white.
Her wide-open eyes slowly turned to the source of her voice. There, before she knew it, there was a man who opened the door and entered her bedroom. He had his arms crossed around her and was looking down at her with his eyes asking her what she was doing.
No, it’s the bedroom? He came to the bedroom last time, but he had to at least knock. Even if they were close friends, it was not polite. Isn’t there a line that must be kept between men and women? A few valid points came to mind, but in the end, the question that came out of each office’s mouth was nothing else.
“…… “Did you hear that?”
“What? “I just heard something annoying.”
Gakcheong felt a little relieved at those words, but soon trembled from the shame that was slowly rising. If you think about it, isn’t this all Siwoo’s fault? The pillow that Gakcheong was holding was thrown to Siwoo, who sensed something unusual and took a step back.
“…… “Why are you coming in on your own?!”
With a thud, Si-woo hesitated and retreated. This was because the physical force on the pillow was formidable. Si-woo, with a somewhat aggrieved look on his face, grabbed the pillow and protested to Gak-cheong, who was making angry noises.
“Hey, why can’t I just come in on my own…” I came in because I was worried because I called you and there was no answer! “I even knocked, but there was no answer!”
Gakcheong’s body suddenly stopped at that irritated voice. Was it like that? It could have been because he had his face buried in her pillow. First of all, each office had excellent financial resources, and his concentration was also outstanding. When he was so absorbed in his thoughts, he tended not to pay attention to what was going on around him.
Even if the thoughts belong to a girl with a romantic interest. While Gakcheong stopped moving, Siwoo’s eyes became even more anxious, and at that point, Gakcheong had no choice but to clear his throat and avert his gaze.
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“…… Hmm, hmm. Well, did you? “Say something,”
“There was no time for that… ….”
Siwoo then let out a small sigh. Feeling a little embarrassed, Gakcheong crouched down and avoided eye contact. A blush appeared on his face. If you think about it, it’s all Siwoo’s fault. Gakcheong glared at Siwoo out of resentment, but Siwoo sat on the bed as if he had no interest in it or not.
The indifference made Gakcheong feel awkward for no reason. Her mind was so complicated, but Siwoo didn’t seem to have any thoughts. At the same time, she was grateful and happy that Si-woo came to visit again today, so Gak-cheong asked in a slightly sharp voice to hide her embarrassment.
“…… So?”
At those words, Siwoo’s eyes turned to each office again. Gakcheong huffed, cleared her throat again, and tried to calm her mind. It didn’t take long for her to return to her usual self. When she opened her eyes again, her wine-colored eyes held sharp firearms as always.
Each office asked again. It was the voice that regained her composure.
“What’s going on today?”
“No, I’m here because I have something to do. I stopped by for a moment because I thought I might be lonely…….”
Gakcheong’s eyes narrowed as Siwoo continued. It was because Siwoo always had a different intention when he talked like that. As expected, Siwoo was now watching the attention of each office. The smart minds of each office began to find the reason why Si-woo behaved like that.
A few things came to mind. First of all, there may have been some problem due to the previous joint venture between the three countries, or he may have come to ask a favor that could not be granted except by each office. If not, there is only one possibility left.
In the end, the story that Siwoo brought up was a topic that each office considered the worst. Siwoo asked each office with a slightly hesitant voice.
“…… “How is Gamwoo doing these days?”
“‘Sister’?”
Each office immediately gave a negative response. When she asked again, frowning, Siwoo’s face became a little prickly.
“No, it’s nothing special…” I ran into him by chance last time and he didn’t seem to be in very good condition. “After that, you must have seen each other a few times because of the house arrest issue, right?”
However, despite Siwoo’s words, Gakcheong had a sullen face. She snorted and opened her mouth. It was an emotional response that was uncharacteristic of her.
“Hmph, anyway, I guess you’re worried that we were once sworn siblings? Someone is trapped in her home because of that woman…….”
“…… Don’t be like that. And I need to know what kind of situation Gamwoo is in so I can respond. “There is too little information right now.”
Despite Si-woo’s continued persuasion, Gakcheong still had a disapproving look on her face, but since Si-woo’s words were not particularly wrong, she decided to look back on her memories.
And then there it was. It was a while ago.
**
It had been a long time since Gamwoo visited the mansion. Until then, Wolhaejeong’s secretaries stopped by one by one to make formal reports or ask each office about inconveniences, but each office knew that it was just a formality anyway, so each office did not say anything.
Anyway, everything will be reported to Gamwoo or Eunggwang. In that case, it would have been better not to say anything. That was the last pride that each office maintained.
However, Gamwoo’s appearance that day was unusual enough to shake the attitude of each office that had consistently ignored him. She recited her report in her usual soft tone, asked perfunctorily what was uncomfortable, and then turned to leave.
But each office knew. The sadness in her purple eyes. It looks somehow helpless and pitiful. Her womanly sorrow was evident in her eyes and her movements, leaving her mark. That caught the attention of each office.
Mainly in a bad way. As Gam-woo turned around and tried to leave her mansion, Gakcheong hurled a mocking remark.
“…… “You look like a rat caught in the rain?”
Thumping, Gamwoo’s movements stopped. Gamwoo’s dark yet sharp gaze slowly turned towards Gakcheong. Each office said this without knowing, but each office’s ridicule had a way of reminding Gamwoo of the scenery of one day.
On a rainy day, the memory of Si-woo turning around after choosing each office and Gam-woo watching from afar. However, even the enemy’s young gaze was nothing more than an element that stimulated sadism for each office.
She was now a woman who had crossed a river from which she could not return, much less a woman fighting over the man she loved. Those two reasons alone were more than enough reasons for her government to attack her.
“I guess things aren’t going well these days? Well, I tried to do my best, but I guess I didn’t expect Siwoo to turn out like that. I wish? “He called me a traitor and put Li Yue in danger with my own hands.”
There was silence for a moment. Gam-wu was glaring at Gak-cheong without saying a word, and Gak-cheong had a sneer on his face. The moment of silence ended when Gamwoo turned again and faced each office.
She took her few steps. In an instant, the distance between Gamwoo and Gakcheong became closer, and Gamwoo’s cold voice rang out.
“…… “Ok-hyung seems to be in a very good mood.”
Each office snorted and opened its mouth. It was still a mocking tone.
“Hmph… “Thanks to someone, I was forced to take a vacation.”
“No, not that one.”
Gamwoo did not flinch despite the ridicule of each office. With his face still cold, he just leaned his upper body and whispered into each person’s ear.
“…… Siu’s younger brother is putting Liyue in danger, but she seems to be in a good mood. “That too.”
At those words, each office momentarily fell silent. These were words that pierced deep into her heart. Gakcheong seemed to want to say something, but Gamwoo opened his mouth even faster.
She raised her upper body again and glared at each office with her cold eyes.
“She was imprisoned in her home, and all her powers were taken away… The proud and arrogant old man, Ok-hyeong, is gone, and all that remains is a pretty girl who waits for just one man all day long. When she falls in love, there is no way the country will catch her eye. Are you happy? “The fact that Siu’s younger brother is threatening Liyue for you?”
Each office gritted its teeth at that contemptuous tone. Her eyes became fierce. Each office was once again met with mocking voices.
“…… So you seem to be in a very good mood? In the meantime, did you dump Siwoo?”
With those words, it was Gamwoo’s turn to keep his mouth shut. Gamwoo’s purple eyes were growing colder, but the more this happened, the more mocking Gakcheong could say.
Gakcheong covered her mouth and giggled, as if she had finally figured it out. Her gaze was so cruel that it penetrated every corner of Gamwoo’s heart.
The gaze of a superior looking down on those below him. It was each office that was in a political corner, but right now, it felt like the opposite had happened. Gamwoo felt a little moved by that fact.
Whether it be so or not, the mouths of each office opened again. She let out her rhyme with a small exclamation.
“Aha… “Gamwoo, are you jealous of me?”
Wow, Gamwoo’s teeth ground together. Each office seemed to have finally gained confidence and continued speaking in a more relaxed voice.
“I thought they could just confine me to my home and separate me from Si-woo… Si-woo comes to visit me every day, and the more you do that, the farther away you become from Si-woo. So you’re doing it because you’re jealous. Yes?”
“…… “These are truly the thoughts of a whore.”
A cold flame flickered in Gamwoo’s eyes. She continued to shoot, taking advantage of each person’s silence for a moment.
“No matter what happens to the country, is it more important that the man you love cares about you? So, they must have fawned over their country. For a moment I thought it might have been a misunderstanding, but now I see it was definitely a mistake… “A horny b*tch who would be worthy of being a traitor.”
At those words, Gakcheong’s face became tearful again. Her wine-colored eyes sparkled with anger. The gentle heat met Gamwoo’s cold eyes. Gakcheong let out a voice that contained her anger. The voice was so strong that I thought it would burn her throat.
“You keep talking as if I don’t care about Li Yue…” Be careful what you say. I am always for Li Yue. “That feeling has never changed.”
“For all that, you seem to be in a really good mood?”
At Gamwoo’s calm ridicule, Gakcheong let out a laugh as if she were dumbfounded. She glared at Gamwoo once again, but then he avoided her gaze, as if hesitating for a moment.
There is something I want to say. When I actually tried to say it out loud, I felt ashamed. Gamwoo narrowed his eyebrows for a moment, perhaps puzzled by her sudden change in each office’s attitude. As if she were trying to guess the true intention.
However, despite Gamwoo’s efforts, each office soon opened its mouth. She muttered in a low voice, avoiding her gaze.
“…… That’s right, Siwoo is not the type of person to do things without thinking.”
At those words, Gamwoo’s eyes widened slightly as if she was a little surprised. Gakcheong blushed and cleared her throat due to the overwhelming embarrassment she felt.
She cringed. But other than that, there was no way to explain her feelings. Siwoo was never the type of person to betray someone. So he must also have thoughts. Such faith supported each office.
A conclusion that is neither rational nor rational. The answer is simply to trust someone. Because it was so out of character with each office, Gamwoo was silent for a moment. It was some time later that she opened her mouth.
“…… “I didn’t know that cool-headed old man Ok would do that.”
“Be quiet… “Because I know I don’t fit in.”
Gakcheong growled even more in response to her overwhelming shame, and Gamwoo let out a sigh as if the steam had escaped. She turned around again and tried to leave her mansion.
If it weren’t for the last question asked by each office, it would have been so.
“…… What about you? “But she was once a sworn sister, so doesn’t she really not trust Si-woo?”
Is it a mockery or sincerity? In response to the question whose meaning she could not understand, Gam-u stopped her steps and remained silent. After a moment, Kamu answered with a sigh.
“…… “Yes, I don’t believe it.”
And again she took a step. Finally, she left one word.
“It’s too shameless to say that I actually believed it.”
Those words left a strange resonance. Each office looked at the spot where Gamwoo had left for a long time. And she thought over those words. Each office soon realized this.
The two are at odds somewhere. So it seems like the two are growing further apart. Although each office realized that fact as if by intuition.
The tragic fact that the two are falling apart makes me feel good. She was startled by that ugly feeling and stormed out.
It was as if her mud-like emotions would be washed away.
**
“…… What’s the matter? “Is there anything that comes to mind?”
At that voice, the spirit of each office emerged back into the real world. Gakcheong, who had been immersed in her recollection, was startled and stuttered. Now that she thought about it, she was in the middle of a conversation with Si-woo.
“Uh, huh? Ah, so…….”
Gakcheong was about to answer without thinking, but she closed her mouth for a moment. A look of hesitation flashed in her eyes.
Yes, what you said was correct. Of course, the hatred toward Gamwoo still remained. She was thinking that she wanted her to be broken, that she would be in even more pain. But that was just a personal feeling.
If you think rationally, Gam-woo was an important person to Si-woo. If the two reconcile again, it would be a good thing for Si-woo. Of course, even if he couldn’t get close to her for a while because of her political stance, he could at least meet her secretly and resolve their old feelings.
So it would have been better to give an answer. The brains of each office decided so. But, for some reason. Each office could not open its mouth at all. As if her neck had stiffened.
It was a memory of one day that burrowed into her mind. The scene on the day of my first fight with Gamwoo, when people from Okgyeongdae gathered around.
Everyone took Gamwoo’s side. No one believed the words of each office. What was she thinking when she walked in the rain and visited Siwoo’s dorm, feeling like she was struggling in her loneliness?
It was only then that each office felt warmth. He realized that someone was by her side. For the first time in my life, I realized that the existence of even just one person who understands is such a grateful and joyful thing.
When he thought that even Si-woo would go to Gam-woo, his breathing became difficult. Each person’s eyes began to shake violently.
“…… ? “What’s wrong, are you okay?”
Siwoo’s worried voice was heard. He is such a good person. So, I had to speak, but each office kept stuttering. He felt like he had gone back to his childhood when he couldn’t even learn to speak properly.
“Well, so…” Well, that’s it…….”
I hesitated and hesitated like that.
In the end, each office sighed. The tension in her body suddenly melted away.
“…… Nothing.”
“Really?”
Siwoo looked at Gakcheong with suspicious eyes, but Gakcheong nodded his head and pursed his lips. Then Siwoo had no choice. I just thought there might be something going on with each office.
Gakcheong tried to ignore the guilt welling up in his heart and deliberately changed the topic in a slightly playful voice.
“Rather than that, there will be an auction for bidding rights soon, so is there a way? “I’ll say it again, Eung-gwang is not an easy opponent.”
In response to that question, Siwoo said “Hmm” And placed his chin on his chin. That was also a problem that I had been worrying about a lot recently. Siwoo immediately muttered as if he was worried.
“For now, there are a few things we can do, but now that we’ve sent Fissle, that problem should be resolved… ….”
Pretending to listen to Si-woo’s continued words, Gak-cheong apologized to her rival for the first time.
I’m sorry, Kamwoo. But you started the fight first, right?
At the same time, Gakcheong trembled slightly at the squishy pleasure that surged up her spine. Her wine-colored eyes suddenly took on a heavy glow.
Each office muttered to themselves as if making excuses. Above all, with sincerity.
Unlike you, I only have Siwoo.