Fake Husband - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

Woo-hye resisted the urge to stick her wooden cane into the mouth of the man who was acting all too familiar and simply gave a polite nod.

“Yes, Lord Seok.”

Seok Cheol-won looked at Woo-hye – now dressed like a proper noble lady instead of in rags – with a new gaze. There was a flicker of long-standing obsession in his eyes.

“You look absolutely radiant. In that outfit, you’re even more stunning—you’re bound to turn heads wherever you go.”

Due to his excessive misbehaviour, the Seok family had sent him to live with his maternal relatives for the past few months. He had only recently returned to Doha, where he heard about Woo-hye’s engagement.

“So you got engaged while I was away? What’s the rush to get married so soon? Damn, this big brother is hurt.”

“That’s disrespectful, Lord Seok.”

Hyang-eum interjected with a stern expression. Woo-hye quickly restrained her, silently begging her not to interfere.

There had been a time when Hyang-eum had intervened and been slapped by Seok Cheol-won. Woo-hye had acted immediately to send him to his maternal relatives.

The fact that this was the best she could do still left her bitter.

Woo-hye spoke with a cold expression.

“Marriage is a matter decided by one’s parents, Lord Seok.”

Seok Yung, Cheol-won’s father, detested the idea of his son getting involved with Woo-hye, whom Seol Mi-hee hated. Therefore, Seok Cheol-won could never officially be with her.

“That is why I said you have to get pregnant first. What could they do then? I’d have no choice but to take you in.”

“There is a limit to disrespecting a gentleman’s virtue. How could you be so shameless?”

Unable to bear the insult to Woo-hye, Hyang-eum shouted angrily.

Seok Cheol-won’s face turned murderous and he walked towards her with threatening intent.

“Oh, so you have a mouth now?”

It was clearly a prelude to violence.

Woo-hye quickly pulled Hyang-eum into her arms to protect her, ready to take the blow herself.

Thwack!

“Argh, damn it! Who the hell?!”

But before Seok Cheol-won could even raise his hand, a stone hit him on the head, causing him to turn around.

Hyang-eum’s eyes widened in shock as she saw who it was.

“Lord Cheong-un?”

‘Cheong-un?’
Woo-hye, sensing something strange was happening, lifted her head.

San-gyeong, returning from somewhere with a bundle in his hand, looked at Seok Cheol-won with a blank expression. His head was slightly tilted to one side.

Seok Cheol-won, furious at the unexpected attack, quickly smiled as if he found it ridiculous.

“So you’re Cheong-un? I was coming to find you anyway, but you saved me the trouble.”

“Get lost.”

Even in this situation, Woo-hye perked up at the sound of his voice. That cold, deep tone somehow made him sound even more striking.

“Hah, it’s been a while since someone talked back like that. Hey, young master. You must not know who I am…”

“I don’t care who you are, and I don’t need to know. Shut up and get out. That’s your second warning.”

Seok Cheol-won wasn’t the only one stunned by San-gyeong’s bold words. Woo-hye and Hyang-eum were also taken aback.

“You little bastard!”

Now completely enraged, Seok Cheol-won charged at San-gyeong with madness in his eyes.

But Seok Cheol-won’s reputation for fighting was only enough to impress the street thugs.

Without much effort, San-gyeong landed a punch to his stomach, and as Seok Cheol-won staggered forward, another punch to his back brought him to his knees.

“Ugh…!”

He deliberately hit only non-lethal areas to avoid knocking him unconscious – targeting places that hurt too much to even scream from, but left no serious damage. He carefully controlled his strength to make sure no bones were broken.

He knew exactly who Seok Cheol-won was. If the Seok family filed a formal complaint, he could be dragged before the authorities, so he treated him just enough to leave no evidence.

San-gyeong bent down to meet Seok Cheol-won at eye level and grabbed his shoulder.

“Has no one ever taught you that a man who harasses, threatens or hurts a woman is worse than an animal?”

“Damn it, do you even know who I am – Aagh!”

As San-gyeong’s fingers dug into his collarbone as if they were piercing flesh, Seok Cheol-won twisted in pain and screamed.

In a low voice that Woo-hye couldn’t hear, San-gyeong continued.

“Do you know who I am?”

Seok Cheol-won couldn’t lash out as he usually did.

‘What the hell is this bastard?’

Men who have killed before have a different air about them. And Seok Cheol-won, who often hung around with such men, could recognise the type – especially those who were well acquainted with murder. One of them was Mokcheon.

San-gyeong was no different from Mokcheon. No—he was worse. More vicious.

‘His eyes are smiling.’

Though he wore a mask of indifference, there was a subtle trace of amusement in his gaze.

There was no doubt – he was a madman.

“I’ll say it one last time.”

Yet his voice was calm and collected, like that of a well-educated scholar.

“Get lost.”

Seok Cheol-won was seething with anger, but he couldn’t bring himself to attack again. Instead, he mounted his horse. Coming alone had been a mistake.

It was only after the loud sound of hoofbeats faded into the distance that Woo-hye allowed the tension to leave her body.

San-gyeong switched the bundle to his other hand and walked towards her.

“Are you okay?”

Woo-hye nodded silently.

It was the first time she had seen Seok Cheol-won tuck his tail and run away from someone. Just by hearing what had happened, she could tell how overwhelming San-gyeong had been.

She bowed politely to him.

“Thank you for saving me, Lord Cheong-un. I seem to owe you a lot.”

“There is nothing to thank me for.”

Though grateful for his help, Woo-hye couldn’t help but worry about what would come next.

“The man you just dealt with is the son of the Seok family, who have great influence in Doha. Even though you forced him to back down for now, he’ll surely take revenge. Will you be alright?”

Knowing Seok Cheol-won’s nature, there was no way he would let this go. He was the kind of man who would find a way to retaliate no matter what.

‘Should I ask Uncle Mok for help?’

She knew that San-gyeong and the people he brought with him were anything but ordinary – but they were still outnumbered. If Seok Cheol-won returned with a gang of thugs, what could they do?

‘The magistrate would probably turn a blind eye.’

The local officials wouldn’t support them, so they’d be isolated.

‘Of course, if Pungwoo intervened, we could smooth things over… but then Seol Mi-hee might get suspicious.’

When it came to violent situations like this, Woo-hye really felt powerless.

Meanwhile, San-gyeong kept clenching and unclenching his fist behind his back.

‘I seem to have lost my composure.’

‘Maybe I’ve lost my composure a bit.’

Noticing the slight trembling in his fingertips, San-gyeong thought the effects of the medicine must be wearing off.

It was true – he had momentarily lost his temper at the things Seok Cheol-won had said. Picking up the stone and throwing it had been an impulsive act. And now he regretted it.

He should have broken it more thoroughly.

Such uncharacteristic thoughts crossed his mind before he turned to reassure Woo-hye.

“Don’t worry. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Woo-hye was even more worried, wondering if he simply didn’t understand how the world worked. But what was done was done. It could not be undone.

‘I will just have to find a way to deal with the consequences.’

Still, she was deeply grateful to the man who had stepped in at such a dangerous moment. Apart from Mokcheon, no one had ever dared to stand up to Seok Cheol-won. No matter how humiliated she was, no one had ever helped her.

San-gyeong held out his arm to her – the side that hadn’t come into contact with Seok Cheol-won.

“Take my arm. Let’s talk inside.”

The moment Woo-hye took his arm, she felt the tension in her chest relax.

To be honest, she felt relieved just by his presence. She knew she shouldn’t trust a man like him so easily – but she did.

Gathering up her skirt, she stepped carefully into the shop. With each graceful step, her hem fluttered lightly like the wings of a celestial maiden. Her hair ornaments swayed gently, the jewels brushing against each other, making a soft, clear sound.

Everything she wore had been bought from San-gyeong.

“They suit you well.”

It was a casual compliment, said in the most indifferent of tones – but it made Woo-hye smile without meaning to.

They were sweet words, coming from someone who had just beaten a man, but there was no sweetness in his voice. The contrast made it all the more amusing.

When she suddenly burst out laughing, San-gyeong looked confused and asked,

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s just… You’re pretty shameless. You’re complimenting me while I’m wearing things you picked out. Are you happy with your own taste?”

San-gyeong scowled at her teasing.

“…I was simply stating a fact. Anyway, what brings you here?”

“I was in the pharmacy, and I remembered that you had mentioned doing business nearby. Did I disturb you? You seemed busy.”

San-gyeong looked over his shoulder.

One of his subordinates – who claimed that brewing alcohol was a hobby – was fiddling around with random things, but nothing serious was going on.

In truth, the less successful this place seemed, the better. It was only ever meant to be a front.

“Not at all. Would you like a tour? I’ll show you around.”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Woo-hye walked in the direction San-gyeong led her.

“Do you have many people working here?”

“Three, including myself. Samho accompanies me as a guard, so he’s considered separate. The ones who work here are Yukho and Chilho – they’re moving the liquor jars right now.”

‘The ones I haven’t met yet must be Ilho and Oho.’

San-gyeong’s method of naming people still seemed excessive to her, but she couldn’t deny that it was simple and efficient.

“Chilho, come and greet Lady Dan.”

At San-gyeong’s call, Chilho, his face flushed from drinking, hurried over.

“Good day to you, madam!”

“I’m still unmarried.”

“Correction noted! It’s an honour to meet you, miss! Please call me Chilho!”

He had an impressively loud voice.

“Nice to meet you, Chilho.”

San-gyeong gave Chilho an annoyed look for being too enthusiastic and waved his hand – clearly telling him to get lost.

Just then Yukho approached.

“I’m Yukho. We don’t have tea here, only liquor. Would you still like a drink?”