SIDE STORY 1.3

Meeting Moonkyeong again in Korea no longer felt awkward to Seojun.  

Even though he could only watch her from the shadows, it didn’t matter.  

As always, Moonkyeong stood in the spotlight on stage, radiant and dazzling, while Seojun’s role was to watch her.  

After her performance, as Seojun got into his car, Chief Secretary Yoon struck up a conversation.  

“Managing Director, do you like ballet?”  

Loosening his tie as if suffocating, Seojun smirked.  

He had a good idea why Chief Secretary Yoon, who rarely asked personal questions, was suddenly inquiring about this.  

Seojun had attended every performance held by the National Ballet Company this year.  

Crossing his legs, he rubbed his chin.  

“Not particularly.”  

“It seems like you’ve been watching them often. Then perhaps…”  

Chief Secretary Yoon was perceptive, as always.  

Seojun didn’t bother denying it and flicked his forehead lightly with his fingers.  

“There’s a woman who claims to hate ballet more than anything in the world, but she’s annoyingly good at it. It’s irritating.”  

“Are you hoping she’ll make a mistake?”  

“No, not that.”  

It’s just that I wish she’d give it all up and live a normal life.  

That would be nice, wouldn’t it?  

Then I wouldn’t have to keep coming to these performances.  

I’m so busy, how long is she going to keep making me come here?  

Seojun stopped himself from saying more.  

“Let’s head to Do Hyowon.”  

“Yes, Sir.”  

The car carrying Seojun began to move.  

From the window, he watched Moonkyeong walking alone, away from the other dancers.  

Unconsciously biting his lip, he smiled faintly, as if mirroring her.  

In the quiet car, he felt the heat of his racing heart as his lips curled into a slow grin.  

If I could hold you again.  

Would I sell my soul to the devil?  

If such a chance came to me.  

I’d give you everything.  

Now, I know my feelings.  

I’m not confused anymore.  

Even as his emotions surged within him, Seojun didn’t roll down the window to call out her name.  

He forced himself to push Moonkyeong into the sunlight.  

***

“Congratulations. I’ll join you soon.”  

Late at night, Seojun congratulated Jeon Taepyeong on his election victory.  

With Nam Leehyun’s support, Jeon Taepyeong had narrowly defeated Lee Hankyu in the final stretch.  

There had been concerns when Lee Hankyu suddenly gained momentum toward the end of the race, but thankfully, the outcome was in their favor.  

Thinking about the disgruntled faces of Leehan Group’s people brought Seojun a sense of satisfaction.  

As he ended his call with the newly appointed First Lady, Lee Hyesook, Seojun watched Moonkyeong from afar.  

Once a crybaby, always a crybaby.  

Since having a child, Moonkyeong cried even more often.  

In the past, her tears would pierce his heart like needles, but now, he could endure it.  

He no longer had to hide in the shadows.  

When Moonkyeong cried, he had become the man who could hold her anytime.  

Rising from the sofa, Seojun walked over to her.  

“Finished with your call?”  

“…Yes.”  

“It’s a happy day. Why are you crying?”

“I don’t know. Tears just keep coming.”

When he lightly held her tear-streaked chin, Moonkyeong shyly lowered her gaze. Seojun gently tapped her cheeks and then, as if finding her adorable, softly brushed her lips with his.

His arms, tightly wrapped around her waist, lingered as if reluctant to let go, tickling her cheeks several more times.

“Let’s go to Seoul soon and greet everyone together. They’ll all be happy.”

“Yes, we should.”

“Is your mastitis better now?”

“Mm-hmm. It’s fine now.”

“I was going to help with that.”

He glanced regretfully at her chest through the gap in her shirt. Since starting breastfeeding immediately after giving birth, Moonkyeong had suffered from mastitis.

The milk ducts were blocked, preventing proper milk flow, and she endured a high fever throughout the night until a professional masseuse was called to clear the blockage.

He had lost count of how many times he sighed in concern as she cried in pain, clutching her engorged chest.

During the two weeks she stayed at the postpartum care center, he brought her every nutritious food he could find. Yet, just fifteen days after returning home, she was back to her pre-pregnancy weight.

When he asked the doctor if this was normal, the response was that her naturally slim build made it possible.

Whenever Moonkyeong cradled their baby with her slender wrists, Seojun sometimes felt unbearable anxiety.

“Get some sleep. When Inyoung wakes up later, I’ll feed her the milk you pumped, so don’t worry.”

“I don’t think I can sleep today. I’m too excited and thrilled.”

“Still, you have to. What if you lose more weight? A strong mom means a strong baby.”

“Do you know how strong I am? You’ve been feeding me so much healthy food that I have energy to spare every night!”

Despite her bold claim during his proposal that she’d start speaking casually after marriage, Moonkyeong still used formal language with Seojun. She said it felt more comfortable and natural.

Of course, sometimes, when she was upset or wanted to tease him, she would mix in cheeky informal speech.

Finding it utterly endearing, Seojun couldn’t help but smile.

“No. You didn’t sleep much last night either. Get some proper rest today.”

“No, I want to do it. Okay?”

She often felt guilty about not being able to be intimate after giving birth.

So, whenever there was a chance, she would boldly declare her willingness to compensate with gestures from before. However, Seojun firmly declined.

“When your body recovers, we’ll do everything we want. Don’t call me a beast later—just enjoy it.”

“Fine.”

“I know how skilled you are, Seo Moonkyeong.”

“……”

“Come here.”

Seojun slipped his hands under her arms, easily lifting her and carrying her to the bed where he laid her down gently.

The baby was a blessing, but also a source of great strain on her.

The infant cried frequently, and if she didn’t pump milk on time, her br*asts would swell painfully, depriving her of long rest.

Dark circles had formed under her beautiful eyes.

Wanting to erase those shadows as soon as possible, Seojun wrapped his arms around her and offered his arm as a pillow.

“I’m here, and the housekeeper is here. What’s there to worry about?”

“My br*asts will probably get full again soon. Then I’ll wake up anyway.”

“I told you I’d help with that.”

Blushing, Moonkyeong playfully tapped his chest.

“No, thank you. It’s all for our baby. Do you know how adorable her little mouth looks when she’s feeding?”

Seojun smiled warmly at her words.

“I do.”

“She has your lips.”

“……”

“She’s so beautiful, my heart races every time I see her.”

“Not as much as you.”

“Oh no, I feel like I’m going to melt right now.”

Seojun felt the same way. These moments were so precious to him that they brought tears to his eyes.

Every night, lying face-to-face with Seo Moonkyeong as they fell asleep together.

She would chatter about happy moments, upsetting moments, frustrating moments, and even moments that startled her so much she screamed internally.

If he could go back to that time in Moscow, to the gates of resurrection, and toss a coin, he wouldn’t hesitate to make a wish.

To live a life where, until the very end, he and this person would be buried together in the earth.

For his end and her end to be no different.

For them to be together in every moment.

To remain by her side until eternity.

Seojun hoped and wished for this for a very long time.

Despite her earlier excitement, Moonkyeong soon drifted off to sleep after tossing and turning for a while.

Seojun watched her sleeping face for a long time before gently brushing her hair aside.

Then, a knock at the door and the voice of the housekeeper came from outside.

“Sir, Inyoung is awake.”

Seojun tucked the blanket around Moonkyeong, kissed her lightly, and carefully closed the door behind him.

From the bottom of the stairs on the second floor, he could already hear Inyoung’s loud cries.

In the first few days, whenever the baby cried, the housekeeper would knock loudly on the bedroom door while holding Inyoung, waking Moonkyeong immediately.

So, Seojun had specifically requested that she only knock softly when the baby cried.

Climbing the stairs quickly, he reached the baby’s crib and picked up Inyoung, who was crying for food.

“Shh. Okay, I’ll get your milk soon. Don’t wake Mommy, alright?”

Their daughter was named Inyoung, a name personally given by Jeon Taepyeong’s wife, Lee Hyesook, who said the baby was as beautiful as a doll.

Seojun gently stroked Inyoung’s tiny cheeks, trying to soothe her. Despite his soft voice urging her not to wake her mother, Inyoung pouted her lips and shed tears like little droplets of dew.

“Wah, wah, waaaah.”

When Inyoung’s cries grew more desperate, Seojun could no longer bear to watch and quickly headed downstairs.

“Housekeeper, is it ready?”

The housekeeper handed him a bottle of warm milk prepared from Moonkyeong’s br*ast milk.

When he placed the bottle in Inyoung’s mouth, just as Moonkyeong had marveled before, Inyoung eagerly latched on with her adorable lips.