If glares could be heard, Ryu Hyerins eardrums would have burst from the deafening roar by now.

However, once again, Ahn Seo-kyung could do nothing to stop Bae Jaemin and Ryu Hyerin from leaving the room together. As always, he could only glare at Ryu Hyerin, hiding his damaged pride and anger. He couldnt do anything to her, who docilely took Bae Jaemins offered arm.

As she glanced at Ahn Seo-kyung who tried to soothe his own temper, Ryu Hyerin thought, A person in love is truly a fool

And, that thought resurfaced memories she had kept well hidden.

Although she had been unable to shamelessly express her blind love, like Ahn Seo-kyung had, she had once, in the past, been so thirsty to possess entirety of one persondesired his whole being. At that thought, intense discomfort ran through her whole body; the feeling was strong enough for her to momentarily lose control over her expressions. That memory was her biggest mistakeand the darkest blot in her history.

Those who shared her [secret] thought she had abandoned him. However, she knew. She didnt abandon him; that was her only choice other than to be rejected by him.

Still, she thought of that man often. She had never been humiliated like that ever in her life On lonely nights, she thought of his handwhich had held hers while she woke from nightmares.

That man would never visit her unless she came to see him, but he never hung up the phone on her when she cried to him all night long. A man who would never respond to her I love you declarations.

Still, he presented her with a small lamp to drive away her nightmares. When she slept with that lamp on, she didnt have those detestable dreams and could sleep soundly.

Youre saying you want to stop with this farce?

At that time, Ryu Hyerin smiled as she asked him that. That man, Seo Dawon, didnt answer her.

Ryu Hyerin threw the small lamp she had received from him into the trash can as soon as she returned home, but, the next morning, she wiped it clean and placed it next to her bed. However, she didnt turn the lamp on. And, after he died, she placed it deep within her inventory and never took it out.

Hyerin-ah.

Her reminiscing was broken by Bae Jaemin calling her name.

Hm? She said, absentmindedly.

What are you thinking?

Im thinking that Ill die by Ahn Seo-kyungs hand if this continues? Ryu Hyerin quickly adopted a smiling face and looked up at Bae Jaemin. Only after the Priest looked around and confirmed no one else was listening in did Bae Jaemin smile coldly, as if he were clinically detached from this situation.

After seeing his expression, Ryu Hyerin recalled that the Priest and Moon Issak had spoken before all this debacle. Quieting her voice, she asked, How did it go with Moon Issak?

Not well. I had a bad feeling ever since he called me out for a conversation, but

What did he say?

He asked where I had gotten my Beatrice.

Ryu Hyerin couldnt help but feel a chilly shock run through her body at those words. Unless the man knew something, there was no reason for Moon Issak to separately question someone of Bae Jaemins status like this. What did you say?

I said it was a keepsake from Garam-ie Though he didnt seem to believe me.

Do you think he dug into this matter because he suspected something?

Bae Jaemin didnt answer, but silence was as good as any spoken response. The Priest sighed deeply, He probably has no physical evidence. Im sure he came to see me and dig because he had none. If he had even the slightest bit of proof, he wouldnt be here making shallow conversation at this party.

Then, was he hoping to observe how wed act while startled?

That could be possible Or perhaps hes hoping wed focus on him while the investigation team secretly delves through our history.

While listening to Bae Jaemin, Ryu Hyerin tried to think of someone who could obstruct Moon Issak.

Perhaps a High Priest that Moon Issak had to maintain a good image with; or perhaps a member of the board of directors for the Users Associationsomeone that could give direct orders to Moon Issaks investigation team

Ryu Hyerin thought of all the people that she could control; she needed to use some of the cards hidden up in her sleeves. Recalling the presidents secret transaction she had learned about in her last party, she whispered the details of that deal into Bae Jaemins ear.

I think they could tackle him by changing the investigation teams direction. There cant possibly be official investigations into the Red Lotus incident.

The problem is, Moon Issak wont cause his fuss through official means.

Thats right Still, its better to have some reins on the situation than none, Ryu Hyerin said.

Bae Jaemin still muttered pessimistically, but soon seemed to accept Ryu Hyerins words. He had no choice but to wait while trying to hinder Moon Issak as much as he could in his own capacity.

The two walked silently for a while; Bae Jaemin seemed to regain his composure, little by little. Ryu Hyerin looked at his face and fell into thought for a bit, but Eventually, she asked him something she had been meaning to ask ever since she saw him and Ahn Seo-kyung together. By the way, what were you doing with Ahn Seo-kyung earlier?

He came onto to me one-sidedly. At the inconvenient topic, Bae Jaemin looked elsewhere, vaguely avoiding her blatant gaze.

Staring at his troubled face, Ryu Hyerin opened her mouth again, But, why did it feel like Ahn Seo-kyung wanted to kill me when I walked in? He acted like he had just been interrupted

Impossible.

Im not joking. You said you rejected him properly before; you didnt use me as an excuse, did you?

He probably noticed that I like you.

Ryu Hyerin observed Bae Jaemins face; the Priest had declared I like you with such an apathetic face.

Itd been quite a while since Bae Jaemin had expressed his feelings for her. Even while Seo Dawon was alive, he had approached her without hesitation.

Because of that, she couldnt help but think of Bae Jaemin when she fell in love with Seo Dawonso much so that the love had turned to hate. Bae Jaemin was willing to be her toy even though he knew exactly who Ryu Hyerin desired.

Isnt Ahn Seo-kyung quite pretty? Or, itd be fine to close your eyes and receive his advances, she said.

That was why Ryu Hyerin felt comfortable in front of Bae Jaemin. She had already shown him herself at rock bottom; she had no need to calculate and pretend in front of him as she did for others. She had no need to be courteous to him nor walk on eggshells around him, so she could say things hed clearly detest.

As expected, Bae Jaemin immediately frowned. However, it didnt convey as much discouragement as would normally be expected when the woman he liked told him to play around with someone else that liked him instead. Rather, he seemed irritated; it was as if he were saying Why is today like this? with his resigned expression.

I like a woman who looks good in a black dress, he said shamelessly, as he glanced at the black dress Ryu Hyerin wore. The dress had a bold design that exposed her cleavage; she could have reported him for harassment at that moment.

Ryu Hyerin responded with a sly smile, That was such a lame and perverted comment.

Furthermore, she has to be good at making spiteful remarks.

Are men an impossibility for you?

It would be possible if you were a man. Bae Jaemin smoothly, without losing pace, wrapped one arm around Ryu Hyerins waist. At a surface glance, his action seemed purely romantic, but she knew Bae Jaemin was the type of man to take his arms away if Ahn Seo-Kyung were to exit the room and see them.

As if the two had shared an inside joke, Ryu Hyerin laughed. Bae Jaemin must have taken her laughter as implicit permission; he gently bit her full lips. She was a little offended that he bit her carefully painted lips, but she was able to overlook that slight as thanks for making her laugh.

Ill have to fix my makeup again because of you Mmph!

However, Bae Jaemin seemed to have been strangely stimulated by her coy eyes. Perhaps he quickly grasped that Ryu Hyerin was in a generous mood today. Bae Jaemin skillfully pushed her against the wall and pelted her with kisses.

At that moment, she remembered how she and Bae Jaemin played around like this in the Red Lotus headquarters, avoiding Seo Dawons gaze. However, she didnt feel as miserable and wretched as she did then. So, when Bae Jaemin separated their lips for a moment, she wrapped her arms around his neck instead of glaring at him.

Bae Jaemin hesitated, but continued to endure her weight until her breasts fully pressed against his chest. Then, she whispered mockingly in his ear, Youre so bad. Youre so clumsy, no matter how many times weve done this.

Why not give me chances to practice?

She didnt need to say who she was comparing Bae Jaemin to; the shadow that man cast, intruding between Ryu Hyerin and the Priest, was particularly clear today. Instead of getting angry, Bae Jaemin buried his face in the nape of her neck.

At first she was so happy to see his hurt face after saying such things to him After killing Seo Dawon, though, Bae Jaemin gained a sense of ease.

Ryu Hyerin was disappointed that she couldnt similarly be at ease. It seemed as if she was the only one still stuck, floating around aimlessly.

Become a Patron!

TL: Honestly, one thing I appreciate about this novelis that the antagonists (Barring a few people) are so interesting. In a way, Ryu Hyerin is so believable and sympathetic but also so detestable as well. Smh though, imagine loving someone so much you conspire to kill him. Her relationship with Bae Jaemin is so fascinating as wellits hard to know what the Priest is thinking and Ryu Hyerin certainly doesnt seem to love him either. We have an intimate look into how they use each other.

Also, its nice of her to clear up things about her and Seo Dawons relationship. I guess there really was no love lost on Seo Dawons sidealthough he was indeed kind to her.