Chapter 309: 723
[Chapter 184]
[As the Heart Moves (5)]
The incident of Lee Yujung's kidnapping at Luminous Group's networking event.
The happening that occurred at the end of the networking event not only surprised people in political and business circles, but also caused a huge ripple effect.
"─I hear Luminous Group declared to YH Group that they're canceling the engagement. They say they'll engage Lee Yujung to <Crimson Wing>."
"Huh... Is that really true? No, does that even make sense? What?"
"It means Lee Yujung and <Crimson Wing> are getting engaged."
"What? I must be hearing things, can you say that again?"
"I'm telling you, Lee Yujung decided to get engaged to <Crimson Wing>!!"
""""No, why!!!""""
The person who kidnapped Lee Yujung that day was none other than <Crimson Wing> Noh Eunha.
They say Noh Eunha brought Lee Yujung back only around midnight.
And the two suddenly told Lee Jungin they would get engaged.
Lee Yujung even showed some ring as proof of engagement.
Lee Jungin fainted upon hearing what his daughter who had been missing for hours suddenly said when she returned.
And those remaining at the networking event spread that news widely, ultimately making the two's engagement a fait accompli.
"Wow, it's such a romantic story. Running away from the engagement venue out of love rather than a political marriage, it's like something out of a novel!"
"<Crimson Wing> is quite manly too. He opposed Lee Yujung and Choi Yejang's engagement by kidnapping the woman he loves and achieved his love."
"Then does this mean two men were fighting over one woman? And Choi Yejang lost."
"Tsk... They say Choi Yejang stupidly lost his fiancée in the darkness and ended up having her taken by <Crimson Wing>? <Crimson Wing> is barbaric, but that Choi Yejang couldn't even protect his own woman."
People in political and business circles loved to gossip about others' stories.
For them, the happening at the networking event was enough to satisfy their curiosity.
Those who fell into romanticism were enthusiastic about the story of the two.
Among them, Lee Yujung's existence became known as a femme fatale with outstanding beauty that two men would fight over.
Even her disability was used as an element to highlight the story.
Lee Yujung's very existence became material for a romantic epic for them.
"So what happened to Choi Yejang? It would be really difficult to get engaged if he said something there..."
"Can the engagement be invalidated? They already exchanged rings. Even if engagement doesn't have legal force, it can't be easily reversed considering people's eyes..."
"They say Choi Yejang allowed it. That he'll respect Lee Yujung's heart."
"Huh... Is he some kind of saint?"
"Lee Yujung's heart has already turned away, and he was helplessly robbed by Noh Eunha in front of people, so what could Choi Yejang do? He had no choice but to show a magnanimous side with a generous heart."
"I heard Choi Yejang received a big psychological shock. And it wasn't Choi Yejang who made the position statement, but YH Group."
On the other hand, stories about Choi Yejang were sharply divided.
That he showed quite a magnanimous side by handing over his woman to Noh Eunha, even if it wasn't his intention.
Or that he was an idiot who lost to Noh Eunha in masculinity and couldn't even protect the woman he liked.
"But you know what?"
"What?"
"That Choi Yejang, he was robbed twice."
"What?"
"Don't you remember his former fiancée also married Noh Eunha?"
""""Ah...""""
At first, the two evaluations existed equally.
But as time passed, people started digging up the past entangled with Noh Eunha and Choi Yejang.
As a result, public evaluation tilted towards the latter.
With this, Choi Yejang's image was severely damaged.
"Damn, I liked her first..."
"Choi Yejang got done."
"What? What did you just say!"
"I said Choi Yejang got done!! That's why I told you to just approach and talk to her! If you don't do anything, someone else will take her!"
The so-called "Choi Yejang got done".
Even young people in political and business circles jokingly said such things.
It spread by word of mouth to the point where many people came to use the phrase, showing how big the ripple effect was.
As a result, Choi Yejang disappeared from public activities.
"But, um... I really don't understand. Didn't <Crimson Wing> already get married and have a fiancée? Yet he says he'll get engaged again?"
"There's a saying that heroes are lustful, but isn't this too much? Are people crazy? How can they say it's romantic about Noh Eunha."
On one hand, there were people who admired Noh Eunha's courageous action, while others frowned.
Noh Eunha had two lovers, and including Lee Yujung, it would now be three.
People clicked their tongues.
Their reactions were diverse.
Among them, their reactions could be largely divided as follows.
"─Still, this isn't right. I thought the second wasn't right, but a third? What is this?"
Those who actively oppose polygamy.
Although polygamy is said to be prevalent knowingly or unknowingly after the <End of Century Destruction>, polygamy was still legally prohibited.
As a result, many expressed discomfort with Noh Eunha's polygamy.
Nevertheless, they had no qualifications to comment on the two's engagement.
Polygamy was an issue between the parties involved.
Therefore, the only person qualified to raise an objection to the two's engagement was Noh Eunha's wife Han Seohyun.
In the end, even if they morally viewed Noh Eunha's actions as wrong, they could only stop there.
"─The world is like this anyway, what does it matter how many people Noh Eunha marries? I don't care whether Noh Eunha sets up a harem or not, I just wish he would let us live well. And even if Noh Eunha doesn't marry, do you think Noh Eunha's lovers would care about us?"
On the other hand, there were many who agreed.
In this case, it could be said that they judged Noh Eunha would not particularly harm their lives.
They also didn't take much interest in others' lives besides their own, and thought of Noh Eunha differently from themselves from the beginning.
Lastly, it could be said that there was also a calculating intention that Noh Eunha would contribute to the world that much while feeling guilty about setting up a harem.
The thoughts of ordinary people and those in political and business circles were not very different.
"─Are Sirius, Alice, and Luminous forming a definite alliance?"
"There's nothing more certain than marriage."
""""..."
Lastly, there were also those who were highly wary of Noh Eunha's moves.
They didn't just look at the situation happening as it was.
They tried to grasp the intentions hidden within.
And their conclusion was that Noh Eunha's polygamy also had a very political meaning.
If you peel off the shell of a harem.
Noh Eunha's polygamy was not simple.
Sirius, Alice, Luminous.
It meant that three groups that practically dominate the domestic economy formed an alliance that could never betray each other.
Moreover, Noh Eunha was not only in charge of Jung-gu and Yongsan-gu, but also a player receiving the Fairy's favor.
In addition, he was a player with skills comparable to the Twelve Seats <Yamma>, and could be called the representative of 3rd generation players with the most promising future.
""""Hmm...""""
So they fell into thought.
It couldn't be taken lightly.
If this was a highly politically calculated marriage as they thought─.
""""─Is someone who can be called a monarch appearing after the Fairy government was established?""""
""""..."
Noh Eunha's influence grows.
After the <End of Century Destruction>, the world was torn apart by players who claimed to be monarchs.
And they waged war to become the monarch ruling this country and.
As players with intentions gathered around the living legend <Iron Fortress>, the ambitions of the monarchs came to a futile end.
Even the Dark Monarch Baek Seojin, who had the largest force at the time, ended up accepting <Iron Fortress>'s will.
Thus, while preserving the darkness, this country was reorganized around the Mana Management Organization.
And as time passed again, a Fairy possessing the gift of <White Silver> appeared in the world.
<Iron Fortress> and most of the living legends supported her, and that time could be said to be when the world was finally restored after the destruction.
""""..."
Thus all power could be concentrated on the Fairy.
That was order.
Those with power supported the Fairy to establish order in chaos, and that's how the current world could be said to have been created.
In that sense─.
""""─A monarch.""""
A world reorganized around the Fairy.
In that world, again a being called a monarch, with greater influence than the Fairy, appeared.
<Crimson Wing> Noh Eunha.
Or someone who might claim to be a monarch.
Some people came to be wary of Noh Eunha.
However, they were just a few.
The majority just talked about how Noh Eunha's harem would turn out as a topic of interest.
"─By the way, marrying three people. Can he handle that?"
"When Noh Eunha got engaged to Jeong Hayang, such words circulated. That he might make a third too. Huh, it really came true."
"The first time is difficult, but if it becomes twice, and then three times, it gets easier. So it might increase even more in the future."
"Is that all? It's like prominent groups pushed their children to be second and third. Now how will others think?"
"What do you think they'll think?"
"Won't other groups think 'Ah, sending a concubine to Noh Eunha isn't such a pride-hurting thing?' and lobby to send their children as concubines too?"
""""Hey, no way...""""
"Now that Noh Eunha has made a third, it's not entirely impossible for other groups to propose concubines for political marriages. And is it difficult to make a second? Now that Noh Eunha has taken in a third, would he agonize much over taking in a fourth or fifth?"
""""..."
The so-called harem king Noh Eunha.
People came to call Noh Eunha by such a nickname by word of mouth.
The image of a harem king was so strong that the name 'monarch' was easily forgotten.
☆
Although they announced it to the world, they couldn't ignore official procedures.
One day, Eunha met with Luminous Group people accompanied by his family.
"─Thank you so much for deciding despite it not being an easy decision."
"What can we do when our daughter wishes for it. Please raise your head now, in-law."
""""..."
At the meeting of the families.
As soon as he sat down, father bowed his head to Lee Jungin as representative.
Lee Jungin answered with a sigh mixed in and raised father up.
Eunha fidgeted beside them.
It was because he had heard so many harsh words from his family on the way to this place.
Father had said.
How many times do I have to bow my head for you not to cause trouble.
At that time, Eunha couldn't say.
He couldn't even say this would be the last time.
Because he had said such words to father when he got engaged to Jeong Hayang.
And father was really dumbfounded when Eunha said he would get engaged to Lee Yujung.
Other family members were the same.
"We'll take good care of our child from now on. So we'll pay attention so Yujung doesn't suffer."
Until coming to this place, mother had seriously worried.
Saying there must have been a mistake at the hospital, and her son might have been switched.
Mother tried to find an obstetrics clinic rather than the meeting place.
It meant mother was greatly disappointed in Eunha.
For the time being, Eunha would have to beg mother for forgiveness to death.
"To think there will be three sisters-in-law..."
"I'll have three older sisters-in-law?"
Meanwhile, Euna and Eunae's reactions were quite different.
Euna made the same face as mother and was dumbfounded.
She expressed her lament saying she didn't know if it was a good thing to have three sisters-in-law when she only had one younger brother.
How do I appease noona's anger.
Now it seems like she doesn't even see me as human...
There was also a happening entangled with Euna.
One day Euna came with scissors.
At that time, Eunha's heart chilled.
'You, you did wrong, right?'
'I did wrong.'
'I should cut it off and take care of it myself, but I can't because of the sisters-in-law... Are you going to keep doing this?'
'No, I won't.'
'If you do, I'll really snip it off?'
'..."
Euna made a pretend scary face and.
Brought the scissors close to Eunha's nose and made a cutting motion.
Eunha couldn't take it as a joke, and had no choice but to nod to whatever she said.
On the other hand, Eunae hummed happily when she heard the news.
'─It's good to have many new sisters-in-law. I'm the strongest anyway!'
'Right... Eunae, you're the strongest.'
'And oppa likes me much more than the new sisters-in-law, right?'
'That's right, I only have you, Eunae.'
Eunae grinned.
But there was a somewhat coercive tone in her last question.
Noh Euna and Noh Eunae and mother.
And Han Seohyun and Jeong Hayang.
Eunha was realizing how to survive among five women.
When one of them is present and asks if she's the prettiest, immediately affirm it.
Anyway, there's no way all five of them would meet together and say I like them more.
It was a struggle to survive.
Of course, Eunha liked Eunae.
Anyway, Eunha received comfort only from Eunae among his family members and.
Thanks to that, he was somehow able to stay alive until the date for engagement with Lee Yujung was set.
"─Eunha."
"Yes, father."
At that time, Lee Jungin called Eunha.
Eunha straightened his posture and turned his gaze to him.
Lee Jungin spoke with a serious face.
"Honestly, I think that Yejang kid is better than you."
""""..."
"If Yujung had married Yejang, at least people wouldn't have readily said anything to Yujung. But you... If she becomes the third wife, the situation will be very different."
At the words that Choi Yejang was better.
Mother, Euna, and Eunae's gazes seemed to pierce through Lee Jungin for a moment.
But Lee Jungin's words were right.
If Lee Yujung married Choi Yejang, she would have gained a lot, but marrying Eunha had more losses than gains.
I guess so. The words third wife will follow her forever from now on...
People's attitudes are variable.
They change according to power and position.
Now Lee Yujung's disability may be interpreted favorably by people fallen into romanticism.
As time passes, they will start saying unpleasant things to Lee Yujung.
They won't say it openly but will whisper behind her back, and as it spreads, it will reach her ears too.
The words "third wife" alone were a position that was looked down upon.
"─So protect Yujung well. I entrust Yujung to you."
Lee Jungin bowed his head.
To this, Eunha also bowed his head in response.
"─I will make sure no one can touch her."
Eunha knew well too.
So he vowed.
That he would definitely not let anyone who says anything to Lee Yujung off.
That he would even kill them physically.
It was what he resolved to do while accepting her as his third wife.
Then he looked at Lee Yujung.
"─I'll be in your care from now on too. Father, Mother, sister-in-law, older sister."
She was smiling brightly.
She greeted his family members, and the meeting of the families ended in a harmonious atmosphere.
☆
It wasn't over just because they got engaged.
The most important thing still hadn't been resolved.
That day, Eunha who returned to the clan headquarters headed towards Jeong Hayang's room.
'─My feelings aren't good either, but how about paying more attention to Hayang's heart than mine?'
'...Okay, thanks.'
There was also a hint from Han Seohyun and.
Eunha felt that Jeong Hayang had been avoiding him since the day he kidnapped Lee Yujung.
He vaguely understood her feelings too.
Jeong Hayang wasn't welcoming his third engagement.
Seohyun is the exception... This is probably the normal reaction.
He could understand her feelings.
As a result, Eunha couldn't persistently question or persuade her who was avoiding him.
But he couldn't just let her keep avoiding him like this either.
"─Hayang, it's me."
"Papa..."
Knock knock.
Eunha knocked on the door.
There was no answer.
Rather, the reaction came from nearby rooms.
Bang
Creak
Doors opened left and right and.
Including Jin Seona, Kim Minji, Cha Eunwoo.
Women using the same floor poked their heads out through the door gaps.
They glared at Eunha while making gestures of cutting their necks with their hands.
"..."
It means you're dead.
They even moved their lips to say something.
Trash, die.
Eunha felt like their words spoken with lips were piercing his ears.
[─You idiot, go and prostrate yourself flat. Whether Hayang whines or whatever, just say you did everything wrong.]
[Seona, as expected you're the only...]
[I'm not comforting you, you know? I'm on Hayang's side.]
[...]
[You'll get comfort from Euna unni or Seohyun unni or Yujung or Eunae even if I don't comfort you, right? Wanting my comfort too is too greedy!]
[Okay, thanks for worrying.]
[Hmph, what are you saying... Why would I worry? The door's open, just go in.]
Jin Seona's telepathy also flew in.
The lovers' exchange.
They conversed through the artifact and.
Eunha knocked on Jeong Hayang's door once more.
"─I'm coming in."
Although Jeong Hayang's answer wasn't heard.
Eunha decided to enter her room without permission.
As Jin Seona said, the door wasn't locked.
"Hayang."
"..."
The room was dark.
Eunha looked for the switch to turn on the lights but gave up.
Instead, he chose to softly illuminate the room by snapping his fingers.
"Did you eat?"
"..."
Jeong Hayang was lying on the bed.
She was turning her back to him as if she didn't want to see Eunha.
She was even covering herself with a blanket.
Eunha sat on the edge of the bed and carefully removed the blanket.
Jeong Hayang didn't resist and.
Eunha stroked her hair.
"Don't touch my hair..."
"Sorry, I want to touch it."
"...Why did you come..."
"I came to see you."
"Liar."
Hair without a ribbon tied.
Eunha touched her loose hair and finally got an answer from her.
She pushed him away weakly.
The reason she let him be even though she said not to do it was that Jeong Hayang's words and thoughts were different.
Saying not to touch her hair actually meant to touch it more and.
Asking why he came meant why did he come only now and.
The answer "liar" was to hide her heart.
Lastly, pushing him away weakly meant to pull her strongly.
Eunha understood Jeong Hayang's language and lay down on the bed.
"Don't do it..."
"I don't want to."
Jeong Hayang struggled slightly.
But when he firmly refused, she stopped struggling.
Eunha hugged her from behind.
Although he couldn't directly feel her warmth since Jeong Hayang was wrapped in a blanket.
Nevertheless, Eunha focused more on the situation of holding her.
"Won't you look at me?"
"I don't want to see your face."
"I got engaged to Yujung today."
"..."
"Thank you for allowing the engagement."
What words should he say?
Eunha had been worrying until now, and still hadn't found the answer.
Because he knew no answer would work for Jeong Hayang.
So Eunha decided to focus on hearing her voice.
Finally she opened her mouth.
"─I... don't like it..."
"..."
"I wish you would only look at me."
Jeong Hayang sobs.
She slowly turned her body.
But she doesn't look at Eunha.
She just buries her face in Eunha's arms and cries.
Eunha patted Jeong Hayang's back.
Her back trembled faintly.
"I don't like being second."
"..."
"If I was first, I would have prevented you from making a harem... Why am I second, when I confessed first..."
"I'm sorry."
She poured out all her suppressed emotions.
Eunha could only say he was sorry.
It was something to be sorry about to Jeong Hayang but.
He couldn't do as she wished.
"Still, I talked with Seohyun unni, and when I decided to be second, I understood even though I didn't like it... That you might end up making a harem in the end... I even considered such a situation."
"..."
"But, still I don't like it... Up to Seohyun unni is okay. Can't you just like us? Hm?"
Jeong Hayang clings.
She looks up at Eunha.
A face covered in tears.
She seemed to have lost weight too.
Eunha wiped her tears while having to give words she didn't expect.
"─I'm sorry."
"You're... really selfish."
Jeong Hayang speaks filled with anger.
Nevertheless, Jeong Hayang chose the action of burrowing deeper into his arms rather than leaving Eunha's embrace.
As if saying she absolutely, absolutely won't be taken away.
She kept expressing her existence by rubbing her face against Eunha's chest.
"Hayang, do you remember when we first entered the Academy?"
Then Eunha suddenly changed the topic.
Jeong Hayang only breathed roughly, not answering.
But she nodded her head slightly in Eunha's arms.
Eunha smiled bitterly.
"It was when we were preparing for the 031st class inauguration ceremony. I must have said then."
"..."
"That there was someone I wanted to meet."
Quite some time had passed.
Eunha recalled the time when he entered middle school Academy and was half out of his mind not being able to find Lee Yujung.
Then Jeong Hayang showed a reaction.
She slightly raised her head.
Eunha met Jeong Hayang's eyes.
"That person... is Yujung?"
"Yes, that's right. You may not believe it, but she's really precious to me."
What should he say to persuade her?
What should he answer?
Eunha still didn't know.
He just wanted to tell her the heart he had hidden.
"I can't say much now."
"..."
"But someday when time passes... when everything is over, I'll tell you. But at that time─."
Noh Eunha's true heart.
Jeong Hayang listened and.
Eunha brushed back her hair while tightening his arm embracing her.
As if saying he won't let go.
Eunha didn't loosen his arm.
"─I hope you won't be afraid of me."
"Why... would I be afraid of you..."
Jeong Hayang shakes her head.
Eunha laughed silently.
"─Promise me. Make sure... to tell me what happened between you and Yujung."
"Okay, wait until then."
Jeong Hayang's anger wasn't resolved.
She just pitied Eunha and was moved by his sadness.
Nevertheless, Eunha felt relieved seeing her mood softened.
"Bibi!"
That day, Buldak opened the window by himself and flew outside and.
The two talked about memories, emphasizing the bond they had built up until now.
And as if confirming each other's hearts, they spent a deep and affectionate night.
☆
Some time after Lee Yujung's engagement.
Alice Group decided to move up Noh Eunha and Jeong Hayang's wedding.
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