* * *
After hearing Joo Minhyuk’s words, I stared at him blankly.
For a split second, I couldn’t grasp what I had done wrong.
But a moment later, I realized I had made a massive mistake unconsciously.
The memories only I was supposed to have had leaked out through my actions without me even noticing.
I live in this world having already read the future in a novel, which is why I know exactly who Han Heeseong is—even parts of the future that the current Joo Minhyuk shouldn’t know yet.
Han Heeseong is Joo Minhyuk’s Omega, the “Yeonghwa Palace,” and the future Empress.
In the novel, Han Heeseong and his family were fierce supporters of the Imperial family, serving as Joo Minhyuk’s reliable pillars of strength.
It was only natural and inevitable for the two of them to fall in love.
That was the extent of the relationship between Han Heeseong and Joo Minhyuk as I knew it.
Even in this reality, I had met Han Heeseong without Joo Minhyuk knowing.
It wasn’t intentional, of course.
Han Heeseong recognized me first, and we shared a “buy-one-get-one-free” ice cream I had received.
And the person who clung to me while covered in blood was also Han Heeseong.
Though, I only found out later that the person I ate ice cream with was actually him.
Afterward, I witnessed him talking with Joo Minhyuk in front of the palace pond, but Joo Minhyuk doesn’t know I saw them that day.
It was an unexpected appearance and an unplanned meeting, but regardless, that was how I met Han Heeseong.
That is the Han Heeseong I know.
Joo Minhyuk doesn’t know that I knew Han Heeseong before the bloody ambush.
So, to him, something must feel off.
Specifically, what feels strange to him is this:
“Why do you accept the existence of Han Heeseong so naturally? Usually, if a stranger tackles you on the street, wouldn’t you be curious about who that crazy bastard is? But our Grand Royal Concubine is so uninterested. It’s to an strange degree. I’m curious about that.”
See?
This.
He would be curious about this, given his personality.
I had forgotten that I was supposed to act under the premise that I “didn’t know” Han Heeseong.
I should have acted like I didn’t know him, but I failed to even realize it.
Since I already knew Han Heeseong, I wasn’t curious about anything.
If I had any questions, it was just: ‘Why is Joo Minhyuk’s Omega doing this to me?’
That was it. So, I made a big mistake.
“…That’s because you said it when you were on the phone. You said Han Heeseong… so I knew it was Han Heeseong.”
As if he expected that answer, Joo Minhyuk smiled brightly.
Ugh, I don’t want to see that.
“Right. I did say the name. But I only said the name. I didn’t say who he was or what our relationship was. So why didn’t you ask anything?”
…Because I already know, that’s why.
I truly had nothing to say.
I just wanted to avoid his eyes.
But this fox probably knew exactly what I was thinking.
“That’s because… I wasn’t curious?”
“Really? Is that how people normally react? As I said before, he’s the man who molested you like a madman. I know a lunatic like that, so how can you not be curious? If it were me, I’d be curious.”
He’s right.
Being curious is normal.
If I hadn’t known who Han Heeseong was, I would have caused a scene, asking who he was, why he did that to me, and if the Emperor knew him.
Yes, that would be the normal reaction.
Should I just tell him I saw them at the pond?
But honestly, it hurts my pride too much to say I saw them looking so close.
Should I leave that out and just mention meeting him outside?
“Look at this. You’re using your brain again. I was wondering. Why did you just let it go when Han Heeseong clung to you like that? Isn’t that too strange? You’re not exactly someone who likes physical contact. No, wait. Even someone who likes it would hate a stranger clinging to them, wouldn’t they?”
…He’s asking because he already knows.
He knows everything.
Joo Minhyuk definitely knew something.
At the very least, he was certain I knew Han Heeseong.
“To be honest, I’ve been curious every day since then. It was a mystery.”
“Since when?”
“Since that day. The day Han Heeseong told me to give you to him. The day that madman dared to utter such disrespectful words. I wondered, where did this lunatic see Cha Haejoo to act like this? Where did he see you to fall for you so hard that he’d rush at you?”
…Huh? What is he talking about?
This is the first I’ve heard of this.
Han Heeseong asked Joo Minhyuk to give me to him?
My god, he really is out of his mind.
While my pupils shook in shock, Joo Minhyuk shook his head, his eyes flashing with annoyance at the mere thought.
“Should I say it for you instead? The conversation between you two I heard over the phone made it clear you knew each other. Especially on Han Heeseong’s end. I wondered how he knew you, but I never imagined there was such a cute meeting. When did you two eat ice cream?”
At his last words, I swallowed hard and couldn’t hide my nervousness.
It was because Joo Minhyuk, who had been smiling with a lethal voice, saw his gaze change at the mention of the ice cream.
Joo Minhyuk’s eyes had truly turned sharp.
Did he really hear something whispered that quietly?
Seriously? If I say the wrong thing here, I’m truly doomed.
I decided to confess honestly to Joo Minhyuk.
“We did eat ice cream, but I didn’t know who he was back then. He asked if it was good, so I gave him the extra one I had.”
“Where?”
“…I was sitting at a new convenience store near Cheonggyecheon…”
“You went all the way there?”
At the mention of Cheonggyecheon, Joo Minhyuk sat up slightly, his voice getting louder.
What… it’s not even that far. It’s right in front of the palace once you leave.
Well, not right in front…
“He knew who I was. He must have recognized my face.”
At my words, Joo Minhyuk’s excited mouth shut tight.
From the way his eyes moved, he seemed to have an idea of how Han Heeseong knew my face.
If there had been talk between the two of them, there’s no way Han Heeseong’s family wouldn’t know what I looked like.
“…Did he say he’d seen you before?”
“Yes. He must have seen me walking on the street first. He mentioned that he thought he’d seen wrong at the time. Anyway, Han Heeseong knew who I was, but I didn’t know him.”
His excitement having died down quite a bit, Joo Minhyuk nodded and muttered to himself, “So that’s where you saw him.”
But thinking it over, this was definitely a situation where I should be angry too.
Though I don’t know what will happen next since the situation has deviated from the novel, I am currently in a position where I have to hand over my husband to another Omega with my eyes wide open.
Joo Minhyuk met Han Heeseong and even his father in the palace behind my back, yet he’s the one interrogating me?
I’m the one who should be nagging.
No matter if this is a world based on a novel, having two Omegas for one Alpha doesn’t sit well with my values.
Suddenly, a streak of pettiness that didn’t fit my usual personality flared up.
“Actually, after the ice cream, I saw Han Heeseong one more time. When we ate ice cream, his face was all covered up so I didn’t know who he was, but when he tackled me, I realized he was the person I’d seen back then.”
“…What do you mean? Where would you see Han Heeseong?”
Joo Minhyuk, who had been resting his chin on his hand in thought, straightened up with a puzzled look.
I looked him straight in the eyes and answered clearly.
“In front of the pond in the rear garden. When he was with Your Majesty.”
“Ah…”
Joo Minhyuk’s expression was quite a sight.
He was flustered.
Are you surprised I saw you when you met so openly in the palace?
I didn’t let on that I knew the purpose of that meeting was a secret contact.
I felt hurt that they met secretly for their future, yet he was scolding me for eating a single ice cream.
“That was nothing. Actually, it wasn’t nothing—it’s a day I don’t even want to remember. It’s unpleasant to think about. It was the day Han Heeseong kept talking nonsense about wanting the Grand Royal Concubine, making me want to rip his mouth open.”
Huh? So that’s what happened that day?
Asking the Emperor for the Emperor’s concubine?
That’s strange.
I remember the atmosphere looking quite good back then.
And there was nothing special between me and Han Heeseong that would make him demand me.
I should really ask Han Heeseong directly.
Why on earth is he doing this to me?
“But why didn’t you say anything? That you saw me with Han Heeseong?”
“How was I supposed to bring that up?”
Of course, I was upset, but I had no choice but to push it aside, thinking it was unavoidable.
I wasn’t in a position to do anything about it.
But then, Joo Minhyuk suddenly hugged me tight.
“Cha Haejoo. We’re different from before. We aren’t just people who trade polite greetings anymore. We’re a real couple now. We’re the closest people in the world to each other. So from now on, you shouldn’t hide anything from me. You have to trust me most of all. Understand?”
Being hugged so suddenly, I stayed quietly in his arms, flustered.
There was something a bit odd about his sudden speech, but it wasn’t the right atmosphere to question him closely.
Not that we shouldn’t hide things from each other, but me to him?
Shouldn’t he have said “I won’t hide anything from you either”?
So, does that mean only I have to be open with him?
It might just be a passing comment, but strangely, this part bothered me.
“You must not forget that I am the person you can trust the most. Whatever I do, whatever action I take, it’s all for you and for us. Just trust me, and don’t hide anything from me in the future. Tell me everything.”
They were words I couldn’t fully grasp, but I just thought he was emphasizing it for the sake of our relationship.
So, I simply nodded my head.
* * *
