* * *

“How… how are you able to show such courage, Chaeyi?”

Bennex shyly lowered his gaze, his eyes sparkling like starlight, full of admiration.

“I could never muster that kind of bravery. Chaeyi, you’re truly amazing.”

“Oh, thank you. But honestly, I’m not someone who deserves such praise.”

Chaeyi, looking a bit sheepish, offered a faint smile, which made Bennex lift his head abruptly.

His eyes, bright and shining, were fixed entirely on Chaeyi.

They held the look of someone experiencing their first love.

“No! Truly… I can’t help but admire you. And I think… I’ve started to like you, Chaeyi.”

At the same time, a pheromone with a hint of plum blossom began to emanate from Bennex.

Normally well-controlled, his emotions had spilled over, releasing it into the air.

Unaware of this, Chaeyi also didn’t immediately grasp the deeper meaning behind Bennex’s declaration of “liking” him.

He was about to simply thank him, but—

“I like you…”

Bennex spoke again, cutting him off.

“I like you, Chaeyi. It’s more than admiration. I like the kind, strong person you are. So… could you give me a chance to be with you? Could you answer the feelings I have for you, just this once?”

Chaeyi was rendered speechless.

The words he had prepared vanished without a trace, leaving him to simply open and close his mouth soundlessly.

It was such an honest and direct confession, something almost unthinkable coming from the normally timid Bennex.

“To date… you mean with me?”

“Yes.”

“…Not Leo?”

“Yes!”

Chaeyi felt like his thoughts had come to a complete halt.

He couldn’t think of how to respond or what to say.

All he could do was stare, bewildered, at the pure and earnest young man looking up at him with sparkling eyes.

Instinctively, Chaeyi raised a hand to his forehead.

“Ah, it feels like I’ve been getting all my life’s confessions lately.”

Even as Kwon Chaeyi, he had always attracted attention.

His pleasant appearance, sturdy physique, and a certain mysterious aura when he stayed quiet all worked in his favor.

Coupled with his gentle and warm demeanor, it wasn’t surprising he was popular.

The only reason people didn’t approach him more often was his apparent disinterest in romance.

Though he had never realized this himself.

“Ben, I… um…”

Chaeyi rubbed the back of his neck, a rare show of nervousness as he cautiously opened his mouth to respond.

He already had Leonard.

Chaeyi liked Leonard too.

Leaving room for ambiguity wouldn’t be fair to Bennex, so he had to decline firmly.

But the thought of crushing Bennex’s innocent feelings weighed heavily on him.

In hindsight, he should have mentioned his relationship with Leonard earlier.

But it had felt awkward to bring it up unprompted, so he’d decided to wait until it naturally came up.

Who could have guessed that decision would cause this mess?

Now that it had come to this, though, there was no other choice.

Chaeyi resolved himself and was about to speak when—

“Chaeyi.”

A voice interrupted, causing both of them to turn toward the sound. Coming down the stairs was Leonard.

The companions who had gone up with him earlier, Enoch and Yosin, were nowhere to be seen.

Had Leonard heard Bennex’s confession?

The tension was palpable.

Chaeyi worried Leonard might react angrily, but thankfully, nothing of the sort happened.

Leonard, his long strides confident, merely swept his gaze around the room indifferently.

“Where’s Ferdinand?”

“Oh… uh. Fern said he wanted to rest and left early.”

“Is that so?”

It seemed Leonard hadn’t overheard Bennex’s confession.

Relieved, Chaeyi let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Bennex, looking more dispirited than before, hesitated as the two conversed, then softly interjected.

“Chaeyi… you don’t have to answer me right away. I’ll… I’ll take my leave now!”

“Wait, Ben—”

Before Chaeyi could stop him, Bennex fled from the mansion.

Chaeyi tried calling out again but failed.

Leonard, keenly perceptive, furrowed his brows in mild irritation.

Though he didn’t know exactly what had transpired, he seemed to sense that something had.

‘What did that guy do to Chaeyi?’

Leonard’s sharp gaze followed Bennex as he retreated.

But Leonard underestimated the situation.

He couldn’t fathom that the timid Bennex, who always seemed to tremble in his presence, could have confessed to Chaeyi in such a short time.

Leonard had already guessed that Bennex harbored feelings for Chaeyi, but he assumed it would be ages before Bennex ever confessed—if he ever did at all.

“…Chaeyi, did something happen?”

“Huh? No, nothing happened.”

Not wanting to stir up trouble, Chaeyi decided to keep what had just occurred a secret from Leonard.

Later, he would meet Bennex privately to clear things up and gently turn him down.

“Why are you here alone, anyway?”

“Oh. That guy… Yosin, was it?”

“Yeah. What about him?”

“He said he wanted to talk to you one more time before leaving. I came to get you.”

“…Yosin wants to talk to me?”

Surprised by the unexpected request, Chaeyi’s eyes widened.

It was unexpected.

From Yosin’s perspective, Chaeyi was the perpetrator who had mistreated and sold him into slavery.

He assumed Yosin would never want to see him again, and Chaeyi had avoided him out of guilt.

Yet now Yosin was asking for him?

Did he want to vent all his accumulated grievances?

If that was the case, Chaeyi was more than willing to face it. He had no intention of refusing.

“Alright. Take me to him.”

Leonard briefly smiled, leaned in to press a kiss to Chaeyi’s forehead, and led him to Yosin.

Following behind, Chaeyi soon found himself in the fourth-floor hallway where Enoch and Yosin were waiting.

“Chaeyi, over here.”

Enoch waved quietly.

Returning a faint smile, Chaeyi turned to face Yosin.

Though calmer than before, Yosin still exuded a faint air of fear.

It was clear that fear was directed at Chaeyi.

Finally, Chaeyi stopped a respectful distance away from him.

Yosin kept his head lowered, his eyes darting around nervously.

He seemed to have something to say, but facing Chaeyi directly appeared too daunting.

Judging by the atmosphere, the silence was bound to stretch on.

The fourth floor was eerily quiet, with no other occupied rooms, amplifying the oppressive weight of the silence that seemed to press down on them.

“Enoch, go ahead and wait in the lobby,” Leonard said, glancing at Enoch.

His tone was considerate, likely to shield Chaeyi’s past from being overheard.

If Enoch learned that Chaeyi was once a slave trader, it might change his feelings.

Not that Chaeyi was particularly concerned, but Leonard didn’t want anything to cause Chaeyi further distress.

Sensing that the situation was taking an intense turn, Enoch quickly descended the stairs.

Silence fell once more.

Chaeyi worried that Enoch’s absence might make Yosin even more frightened.

Finally, after some hesitation, Chaeyi broke the stillness.

“From now on, live freely and do what you wish. I’ll ensure you have the money you need. I’ll send it under Lancaster’s name, so you don’t have to worry. You won’t have to deal with me anymore.”

It was as though Chaeyi was desperately emphasizing, ‘I won’t harm you, nor will I ever appear before you again.’

He even added, “If you feel the need to curse me or hit me, go ahead.”

Of course, Leonard immediately stepped in, saying that wouldn’t be allowed.

Yosin seemed to gather some courage, his eyes cautiously lifting to meet Chaeyi’s gaze.

That moment of eye contact brought an inexplicable tension.

Chaeyi vividly remembered all the atrocities his past self had inflicted on Yosin.

He understood how much pain Yosin had endured and how deeply he might resent him.

“I’m sorry. And it’s okay if you don’t forgive me.”

Chaeyi’s warm gaze met Yosin’s.

Meanwhile, Yosin’s eyes, once filled with fear, began to show hints of curiosity, amazement, and even wonder.

After what felt like forever, Yosin finally spoke his first words.

“Um… Excuse me.”

But he instinctively flinched, curling in on himself.

Likely, it was a reaction born of past abuse for speaking out of turn.

His already small and frail frame seemed to shrink further, evoking pity.

Chaeyi waited patiently, not rushing him.

After a long silence, Yosin averted his eyes to the floor and haltingly spoke.

“Are you… the same Chaeyi that I know?”

* * *