Chapter 47

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Chapter 47

“…I looked back at everything I’d done so far.”

“Yes?”

“Then, your actions that I didn’t understand at that time back then fit perfectly.”

“….”

“First, I have a question.”

“…What is it?”

“Did you ever tell anyone other than me about this?”

However, Seth’s words that returned, were a little different from what Min-ha had expected. Tilting her head in confusion, she replied to it.

“No. You’re the first person.”

“…I see. So, in the future, don’t ever tell anyone about this. Can you promise me?”

“Why…?”

“Promise me.”

“…Okay.”

Even though she did not know why, Min-ha nodded, saying she understood anyway. Seeing that, Seth’s hardened face loosened a little. He slowly reached out his other hand, which was not holding her wrist, and brushed her hair that was ruffled in the wind before tucking it behind her ear.

The next moment, he glanced up with a friendly gaze and spoke.

“I believe. your words.”

“…Really?”

“So, tell me one more time. Do you really, really love me? Do you have the same heart as me?”

Then, as if he wanted to get a definite answer, he persisted about her heart.

It was so simple to show her heart to him compared to telling him frankly about her true identity, so Min-ha answered without hesitation.

“Yes. I like you… I love you.”

“….”

“It’s the first time I’ve loved someone so deeply in such a short time, so I wonder if this kind of feeling is love… I think it’s love, at least this heart thinks so.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’m telling you the truth. To the point where it makes me think that no one else but you can ever make me feel like this.”

“…I see.”

In response to the reply, Seth’s gaze became more tender and affectionate. He looked at her lovingly, who was staring straight at him and confessed her feelings honestly, and slowly released his hand on her wrist and hair.

Stretching out his free arms and hugging Min-ha tightly, Seth opened his mouth as he leaned his head on her shoulder.

“Now, I’ll protect you.”

“…Thank you. It’s very reassuring.”

“Your words are enough for me, I can endure it.”

“Yeah? What are you enduring?”

“…No. It’s nothing.”

Min-ha, who was being held in his arms, who embraced her, tilted her head at the words she heard in her ear. What should she say? It was like a common oath of love that everyone else made, though it somehow seemed to be overly determined and his voice seemed a little sad.

Nevertheless, to Min-ha’s question pointing out that part, Seth returned to his usual voice and answered as if nothing had happened.

‘…Is it just my feeling?’

Still tilting her head, she then pulled her body away from Seth and blushed at the sight of him staring at her with a hot gaze.

“At the time, I just thought you were a puppy and a fool, but now that I think about it, I was so foolish… A person who was so cold, heartless, and arrogant could never become so warm, sweet, and angelic in an instant.”

“I’m flattered…”

“It would have been inconceivable if she had been the one who said that she would do the cleaning of the east annex that I had suggested, and that she did it diligently.”

“If she’s in a situation where every penny is needed right now, wouldn’t Minase Persen have no choice…?”

“No. If it were her, she wouldn’t have asked me to introduce her to a job in the first place. And, even if she did, she would have thrown a mop in my face the moment I told her to clean the East Annex.”

“…Actually, I wanted to say something back then as well, even if it wasn’t to throw a mop at you. You were so sarcastic whenever you saw me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were who you were back then.”

Min-ha grumbled as she remembered him being cruel to her just a few months ago. Meanwhile, Seth just smiled and patted her head.

At his action, she was happy with his touch of stroking her hair while pouting her lips, so she stuck her head close to his head like a playful cat.

Consequently, Seth burst into laughter and said.

“Now that I think about it, all your actions were telling me that you weren’t Minase Persen. Being kind to Noah, or that someone who had never wet her hands once in her life was good at cleaning and sewing. In fact, I was surprised when you learned to sew and made a handkerchief in such a short period of time.”

“Did you?”

“Yes. I was surprised and happy. Actually, it was a bit complicated because then, you said you wanted to learn sewing and leave the mansion. I thought that you were desperate to break up with me like that.”

“Ah, it was like that back then. I wanted to learn to sew as soon as possible and leave the mansion.”

“Is it still like that now? If that’s the case, it’s forbidden for you to learn to sew from Mrs. Pompa in the future. I have no intention of letting you go.”

“I can’t go… No, I’m not going. You and Noah are here, so where else would I go?”

“Is that true?”

“Really.”

Seth, who had a firm look on his face at her words, showed a relieved expression only after receiving the confirmation that she would not leave again. Then, with a sudden serious expression on his face again, he slid the hand that had been placed on her head and stroked Min-ha’s face.

“Your real name is… Did you say Kim Min-ha?”

“Yes, that’s right. My last name is Kim, and my name is Min-ha.”

“Min-ha.”

“Yes?”

“…May I kiss you?”

For the first time, he called her Min-ha and asked for a kiss.

Min-ha was startled and it felt like her heart would jump right away, but she soon gazed at him with her trembling eyes. Seth stood at a distance from her and looked towards her with a serious face as though waiting for her permission.

When she stared at the handsome man she loved, begging for permission to kiss her, her heart pounded as if it were about to explode.

Really, she was so nervous that she felt like she was going to die.

‘…What should I do?’

Her heart was beating so fast and her face turned bright red, she wanted to run away.

If he asked her if she would let him like this, of course, she would not say no…

After thinking for a moment, Min-ha let out a trembling sigh and slowly shut her eyes instead of answering him. The next moment, Seth’s laughter was heard and his soft breath slowly drew closer to her face. A warm, soft texture touched her lips.

Feeling as if her heart might burst right away. Min-ha thought so as she wrapped her arms over Seth’s back, who slowly embraced her as he pressed his lips against hers.

It was only after a few short kisses that his lips parted.

When their lips parted, Min-ha slowly opened her eyes and gently released the arm that was holding her as she met eyes with Seth, who was wiping her lips with his thumbs. He smiled cutely after seeing her avoiding his gaze with a bright red face.

“Your face is red.”

“…It’s because it’s hot.”

“Is it? The wind from the lake is quite cold.”

Even when she changed the subject out of shame, he put on an expression as if he knew it all.

Contrary to her words that it was hot, he pulled his own clothes that were placed on her shoulders and tightened them more. That was not enough. As Seth pulled closer to her and grabbed her slender shoulder with one of her hands, Min-ha felt her cheeks heat up even more.

She finally opened her mouth again, glancing at him who was holding her tightly by her shoulders.

“I said it was hot, but why are you getting closer to me?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how it is for you, although I’m cold. Don’t you like it?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it…”

“Then, let me stay like this a little longer.”

“Yes… Okay.”

Holding her shoulder tightly against himself, Seth then rested his head on her shoulder. Min-ha smiled involuntarily as she glanced at his face with his eyes closed, leaning on her shoulder with a completely relaxed expression on his face.

When she first saw him, her heart was overwhelmed to see the man who had a cold face as if he would not allow anyone in his heart. Though now, he was relieved of his vigilance and had a relaxed expression on his face like this.

Min-ha gently stroked his face with her eyes closed. Then, with his eyes slightly opened, Seth grabbed her hand, which was stroking his face with his own hand, and spoke while looking into her eyes.

“Is there anything else you’re hiding from me?”

“No, there’s nothing.”

“You love me… Is that how you really feel?”

“Yes. It’s true.”

“I can’t believe it. How can someone as pretty and kind as you love me? I’m proud to say that I’m the happiest person in the world.”

Saying so, he gazed at Min-ha with a sweet gaze that seemed to drip honey at any moment, admiring with an ecstatic voice. Even though she was happy, as though the empty space in her heart was filled, she slowly became anxious.

…What if the appearance he said was pretty also included the face of ‘Minase Persen’?

It was unlikely, but just in case. What if… What if he would be disappointed when he stood in front of her in her original form?

‘It is like what people say, love makes people stupid and makes people worry about unnecessary things…’

Now, he knew that she was not Minase Persen, but Kim Min-ha. Nevertheless, such anxiety arose in her mind, making her both happy and anxious. Perhaps, because of that kind of heart, her expression was a little stiff even when he was staring at her with an infinitely lovely face.

Seth, who was staring intently at her face, suddenly exhaled a short breath and gently stroked the corner of her eyes with his hand and added.

“I’m adding this in case you misunderstand me, though it’s not because of your face that I said you were pretty.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You know how much I hated Minase Persen. I despise her viper-like appearance of deceiving and pouring curses onto me and Noah behind beautiful smiles on the outside.”

“….”

“What I said was beautiful is your gaze and this expression—those eyes that tenderly embraced me when I was rough and blunt, and those words that cared about my wounds in spite of my harsh words. I was drawn to you like that. Now that I think about it, I think the first time I started to fall in love with you was when you were arguing with me and saying, ‘I understand how hurt you are’ …From then on, little by little, I started to care about you.”

“…Really?”

“So, if you think I’ve changed my mind because of Minase Persen’s face, you’re misunderstanding.”

“….”

“I wanted to say that.”

Min-ha looked surprised as Seth reassured her anxious mind with the kindest and affectionate words. As if he had looked into her heart, he knew the reason for her anxiety and the words she wanted to hear.

Kissing her lips softly, he then asked, gazing into her perplexed face.

“So, are you relieved now?”

“…Yes.”

“That’s a relief.”

“…But, how did you know? Is it that obvious?”

“Well, kind of.”

“I’m embarrassed…”

“Why? I love it, your honest appearance.”

“…You’ve told me that, yes.”

“And, if the person I saw ‘then’ is who you are, I’m confident that I will recognize you and love you.”

“Yes?”

“Ah… no, nothing. It could just be something I saw in vain. Next time, I’ll tell you when I’m sure.”

“What is it?”

Even though she was a little concerned about Seth’s blurring his words, Min-ha lightly understood his words, ‘I’ll tell you when I’m sure.’

In fact, she did not feel the need to question it. It was because she wanted to accept his words that he would recognize and love her no matter who she was. Most of all, she did not want to break the current atmosphere.

Although she was embarrassed by Seth’s gaze, who stared at her as if she was lovable, Min-ha smiled at him.

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