Some offered money, others donated land deeds, and a few even recommended minor official positions for Do-yoon, suggesting that he take on assistant roles under local government officials as he lacked the credentials for higher appointments.

Do-yoon eagerly seized these opportunities without hesitation.

“My late father always hoped I would enter government service and serve the country. Failing to fulfill his wish weighs heavily on my heart…”

Do-yoon’s tearful words seemed to strike a chord, and with the intervention of the Gangseo Governor, he was granted the position of chamgwan—a minor official responsible for overseeing records and reports—at the provincial bureau.

At first, Do-yoon seemed satisfied enough with his new role.

Meanwhile, Yul-hye abandoned the marriage prospects with the young master from Lord Yun’s family. Although Lord Yun’s family was eager to proceed with the union, Yul-hye firmly refused.

It wasn’t that Yul-hye didn’t understand how much easier life would have been if she became Lord Yun’s daughter-in-law.

But she couldn’t leave Do-yoon behind. 

At the time, Do-yoon still felt like an immature younger sibling to her – a family member she had to take care of instead of Jung Dae-in and his wife. He was like a child stranded by the water’s edge, always on the verge of danger.

Leaving him behind to marry someone else would have felt like betraying the kindness of Jung Dae-in and his wife—or so she believed back then.

Looking back now, that way of thinking seemed foolish, but at the time, she genuinely thought it was right. She naively believed that if she stayed by Do-yoon’s side and guided him just a little, he would eventually come to his senses.

At first, Do-yoon seemed to be doing well—or at least appeared to be.

He gave the impression of having turned over a new leaf and seemed content with his lowly position. He diligently reported to the Gangseo office every day, showing what appeared to be a newfound sense of responsibility.

Yul-hye truly believed that the shock of Jung Dae-in and his wife’s death had changed him. She thought he had finally outgrown the immaturity of his youth.

At that time, Do-yoon proposed to her. Moved by his apparent change and a sense of obligation to care for him, Yul-hye accepted his offer.

The betrothal contract was exchanged as a formal gesture. The news of their engagement quickly spread throughout Gangseo.

It was agreed that the formal wedding ceremony would take place at least a year after the mourning period for Jung Dae-in and his wife had ended. Invitations in the form of traditional hwarcheopjang were sent to acquaintances throughout Gangseo.

The hwarcheopjang served as a formal announcement, essentially declaring, “We have decided to marry and live together in lifelong harmony.”

These invitations detailed the families of the betrothed, their backgrounds, and the wedding date. By distributing them, the couple was officially recognized as husband and wife, even though the ceremony and consummation had not yet taken place.

Now, the wedding date written on the hwarcheopjang was only three days away. Just three days.

The household was already buzzing with preparations for the wedding, which was drawing closer with each passing day. And yet it had happened.

In truth, Yul-hye had long feared that something like this—if not exactly this, then something similar—might happen. Those fears had taken root months ago when Do-yoon said he couldn’t stand working as a chamgwan any longer and abruptly quit.

Even then, Yul-hye had felt that something was off.

Claiming that his pride would not allow him to remain in such a lowly position, Do-yoon begged the governor of Gangseo for another position. He managed to secure a new position, but resigned after less than two months.

He then obtained another position, only to resign after a single month.

Yul-hye had watched this pattern unfold, unable to shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control.

Eventually, Do-yoon could no longer rely on the Governor of Gangseo for help.

The previous Governor, who had respected the late Jung Dae-in, had returned to the capital, and a new Governor had taken his place. This new official neither knew Jung Dae-in nor felt any obligation to assist Do-yoon.

With no one left to turn to, Do-yoon found himself utterly without connections.

Instead of reflecting on his actions, Do-yoon began visiting noble families throughout Gangseo, begging them to help him secure a position. Seeing him crawl like that made Yul-hye’s anger boil over.

What was it about being in an official position that would drive him to such an extreme? Or rather, it wasn’t just the position – it was his obsessive greed for high rank, his relentless thirst for success, that was unbearable.

Yul-hye had tried to persevere, telling herself, Just endure a little longer. Be patient. He’ll change eventually.

But now, her patience had finally run out.

Her remaining sympathy for the boy Do-yoon once was had completely vanished, as had the sense of obligation she once felt toward Jung Dae-in and his wife.

And then today, Do-yoon shattered the last remnants of hope Yul-hye had held onto.

“Serve the new governor for one night. If you do, he’ll give me a position. Not just some insignificant, lowly post, but a proper one. With this position as a stepping stone, I’ll make my way to the capital. We’ll go back to the capital together – you and I. I’ll succeed.”

The wedding was just three days away.

What kind of madman could even think of offering his own bride to someone else?

No one with an ounce of humanity could come up with such an idea.

And it wasn’t just anyone – it was his bride. His wife.

Though the wedding ceremony had yet to take place, and they hadn’t spent their wedding night, she was still his bride.

And yet, he was willing to offer her to the Governor as if she were nothing more than a bargaining chip?

Would a position gained by sacrificing his own bride truly bring him any satisfaction?

Wouldn’t the thought haunt him for the rest of his life—marrying and living with a wife who had been in another man’s arms?

He didn’t even have to think far ahead. The wedding was only three days away and how could he face her on the wedding night knowing that he had willingly given her virginity to another man? The very thought that he could pretend that nothing had happened revealed how deranged his mind really was.