Chapter 54: A Bitter Dose

Of course, Yoon Seung-hyeok wasn’t actually behaving like a pervert. If anything, he seemed completely uninterested in such matters. But the way he handled the hanging scroll, so tenderly, almost as if it were his lover, felt strangely… perverse.

“Moon Hee-yul, there’s no need to defend yourself. Yoon Seung-hyeok truly is an eccentric.”

“I told you, I didn’t mean it that way.”

Song Seol, instead of helping, only made things worse with unnecessary remarks. Hae-min had thought the two were close in private, but judging from today, that didn’t seem entirely true.

“When collecting turns excessive, it becomes an obsession.”

“My lord…”

Hae-min shot Song Seol a look, silently telling him to stop. But Song Seol shamelessly met his gaze without backing down. Meanwhile, the person in question, Yoon Seung-hyeok, burst into cheerful laughter.

“Hahaha, His Highness Byeokran Daegun is absolutely right. Some of my friends even call me a ‘prodigal of calligraphy.’ Compared to that, being called eccentric is rather mild.”

“…”

Honestly, Hae-min could understand why people called him that. Yoon Seung-hyeok’s passion for fine calligraphy was truly exceptional.

“That said, I actually have a request for you, young master.”

“What might that be?”

“I would like to have your calligraphy.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok spoke as if parched, running his tongue over his dry lips.

“Please grant me the chance to own your writing. I will pay whatever price you ask. If I receive your work, I will mount it as a scroll and hang it in my room, treasuring it like a prized possession.”

Only then did Hae-min realize why Yoon Seung-hyeok had been so kind to him. He had assumed there was nothing to gain from ‘Moon Hee-yul’, but there was one thing: his calligraphy.

After a brief moment of thought, Hae-min answered calmly.

“Very well.”

“I would never treat it carelessly… pardon?”

“I said, very well. I will sell you my calligraphy.”

“Is that truly so? My… I feel almost ashamed to say this as the one making the request, but I honestly expected you to refuse.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I’m not sure myself. It was just… a feeling.”

Tilting his head, Yoon Seung-hyeok looked genuinely puzzled. It didn’t seem like a lie. There was no reason for him to lie about something like this.

‘Could it be some lingering memory from the past?’

It was too coincidental, but also absurd. More likely, it was simply because Hae-min gave off a cold impression. Ever since he was young, people had often said things like, “He’s not a lovable child,” or “He lacks warmth.”

“Anyway, you’re saying you’ll sell me your calligraphy?”

“Yes.”

“You mustn’t go back on your word later.”

Hae-min answered firmly once more.

“I won’t.”

He had already made up his mind.

In the past, he had never wanted to sell his work under the name ‘Moon Hee-yul.’ No matter how much money was offered, he couldn’t bring himself to stamp that name beside his writing.

But now, such pride meant nothing.

Strangely, he found himself being stubborn around Song Seol, yet not with Yoon Seung-hyeok.

‘I need money if I want to escape.’

In the end, his goal was to leave Yeomyeong and go somewhere no one knew him. And for that, he needed a considerable sum, not just a few coins.

The book rental shop he worked at was as good as gone, and continuing to receive wages from Song Seol felt uncomfortable. Selling his calligraphy to Yoon Seung-hyeok was the most effective option, practically the only one he had.

So he decided to cast aside his pride. For someone planning to leave everything behind, pride and honor held little value.

“Then, regarding the calligraphy, what style would you prefer?”

“Ah, yes. Let me explain in detail. What I would like is—”

“Seung-hyeok.”

At that moment, Song Seol cut him off.

“Save such chatter for later. Isn’t there something more important to discuss?”

It was as if a cold winter wind swept through the room. The atmosphere turned icy in an instant. For a moment, it even felt like Song Seol’s pheromones had leaked out.

“It’s not that important… actually, let me think.”

Yoon Seung-hyeok started to reply casually, but sensing Song Seol’s growing chill, he quickly corrected himself.

Hae-min, too, glanced at Song Seol, confused. It felt like he had done something wrong, but he didn’t know what. All he wanted now was to leave this uncomfortable situation.

“If you have something important to discuss, please go ahead. I’ll step out for a moment.”

“That would be best.”

“No, I can’t treat a guest that way.”

Song Seol and Yoon Seung-hyeok spoke at the same time. They locked eyes, tension stretching between them, yet in the end, Song Seol won.

Letting out a small groan, Yoon Seung-hyeok reluctantly made a suggestion.

“Then perhaps you’d like to take a look at the garden? There aren’t any flowers in bloom this season, but a snow-covered garden has its own charm. It should still be worth seeing.”

“Yes, the study is already so splendid, I can only imagine how beautiful the garden must be.”

At that, Yoon Seung-hyeok called for a servant, the same maid who had brought refreshments earlier.

“Guide Young Master Hee-yul through the garden.”

“Yes, sir.”

The maid bowed and turned slightly. Hae-min followed after her.

Slide, thud.

Hearing the quiet sound, he glanced back to see the inner gate closed. He briefly wondered who had shut it, Song Seol or Yoon Seung-hyeok, but it wasn’t important.

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Before leaving the reception room, Hae-min approached the refreshment table. He needed to take his evening dose of suppressant pills.

He took out a small paper pouch from his sleeve, the pills he had bought earlier that day.

Inside were small, round black pellets, nearly identical in appearance and smell to the ones he had taken before.

Without much thought, he popped one into his mouth and swallowed it with tea.

****

Hae-min walked slowly along the garden path.

According to the maid, this garden had been carefully cultivated by Yoon Seung-hyeok’s grandfather. He personally shaped the bonsai and arranged the flowers, proof of his deep interest in landscaping.

‘He must have quite a unique taste.’

The estate itself was extraordinary, and the garden was no different. Decorated with strange rock formations, it didn’t resemble the typical style found in Yeomyeong. It seemed inspired by various foreign lands.

Thanks to that, wandering through it felt like traveling abroad. At first, Hae-min had been impressed by the family’s wealth, but the more he looked, the more he admired their aesthetic sense. This wasn’t something money alone could achieve.

“…”

Then suddenly, a strange sensation crept over him.

With every step, a tingling feeling spread through his lower abdomen.

Hae-min stopped abruptly and checked his condition, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong. At first, it seemed confined to his lower belly, but soon his waist felt strange too, and his breathing grew uneven.

“What’s happening…?”

He ran a hand down his arms, then froze.

Even that simple touch felt oddly… stimulating.

‘…No way.’

A sense of dread struck him.

He quickly sniffed the air. He couldn’t detect his own pheromones, but strangely, a faint heat was building in his body.

Hurriedly, he took out the pouch again. He needed more suppressant pills.

Without water, he swallowed another one.

“…Ugh.”

But the sensation didn’t subside. It only intensified.

Even worse, his pheromones were starting to leak out.

He had experienced this before.

Back when Song Seol had released an overwhelming amount of pheromones, Hae-min had become aroused against his will. Even though he didn’t want to be with him, shouldn’t be with him, his body had betrayed him.

“W-why…?”

This felt the same.

The cause might be different, but the result was identical, desire rising against his will. It was like he had gone into heat.

It had to be his rut.

Clenching his lower lip, he quickly took out two more pills and swallowed them, barely chewing. A bitter taste spread through his throat.

‘This much can’t be good for me…’

A flicker of anxiety passed through him. But he had no choice. There were at least two alphas in this estate. He couldn’t let his pheromones spread freely in front of them.

Even if it strained his body, he had to suppress it.

“Hngh…”

But the medicine had no effect.

If anything, the desire only intensified. His head spun as if he had a fever.

Staggering, Hae-min suddenly lost strength in his legs and collapsed.

“Y-Young master!”

The maid’s startled cry sounded distant.

“I’ll go get someone-!” she shouted, but her voice faded.

Overwhelmed by the heat consuming his body, Hae-min could do nothing but gasp for breath.

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