***

Warm air.

The comforting warmth of a heated floor beneath her feet.

A quilt stuffed with soft cotton.

As Hayeon’s eyelids slowly fluttered open, she was gently enveloped in warmth.

It felt familiar…yet also strangely unfamiliar.

One by one, her senses returned.

The quilt rustled softly as she stirred.

She pushed herself slowly upright and looked around.

No matter how many times she saw it, she could never grow accustomed to such a luxurious room.

It was furnished with polished reddish-brown cabinets and elegant pieces that were unmistakably expensive.

Beside the bed stood a finely crafted vanity unit.

On it were a bronze mirror and delicate cosmetic cases containing face powder, rouge and every other luxury a noblewoman could desire.

It was far too lavish a room for someone merely receiving temporary shelter.

“Up we go…”

Hayeon climbed out of bed, thinking she should at least earn the day’s meals somehow.

Just then…

Slide.

The door slid open.

The man who stepped inside was Kwon Muhyeon.

The man who had saved her life.

This wasn’t the first time she had seen him.

Even so…

Her lips parted ever so slightly.

He had the broad, powerful build of a seasoned warrior.

Yet his face was breathtakingly handsome.

Fair skin.

Gracefully arched brows.

And beneath them…

His eyes were as dark as ink, striking enough to draw her gaze before anything else.

He wore a finely tailored jacket made from a fabric unlike anything Hayeon had ever seen before. Its subtle sheen spoke of exceptional craftsmanship.

And yet…

Even such exquisite robes were overshadowed by the man who wore them.

“So, you’re awake?”

While Hayeon was admiring his face absentmindedly, the man crossed the room and stopped right in front of her.

Startled, she pulled her shoulders in instinctively.

She shrank back without even realizing it.

“Y-Yes…”

From a distance, he was just an extremely handsome man.

But standing this close…

He felt enormous.

Like a great beast.

The pressure he exuded was so intense that it was difficult to breathe.

Hayeon swallowed quietly, careful not to make a sound.

However, Muhyeon made no move to step away.

He simply stood there, staring blankly at her.

‘What’s he doing now…?’

She had been staying in this house for ten days.

She had grown somewhat accustomed to Muhyeon’s strange behaviour.

But whenever it happened, she was completely at a loss.

He would simply stare at her face without saying a word.

Hayeon turned her head slightly and murmured softly.

“Is… there something you wanted to say?”

“Hm?”

The expression on his face was so utterly innocent that it caught her off guard.

Summoning a little courage, she spoke a bit louder.

“You’ve been… staring at my face.”

“Hmm?”

He tilted his head as though he genuinely had no idea what she meant.

Then he said something so unexpected that it left her speechless.

“I was just showing you my face.”

“…What?”

“You were looking at my face so intently, Yeon. Even more than usual today, so I…”

“N-No, that’s… I…”

For a moment, she wondered if he was deliberately trying to embarrass her.

But no.

Having spent the past several days with Kwon Muhyeon, she knew that wasn’t the case.

She had learned that he was just an odd man.

A truly extraordinary oddball.

‘…He probably means every word of it.’

“Y-Yes… Thank you.”

“Really? You’re really thankful?”

“Of course…”

Saving her life was an act of kindness that she could never repay.

Yet over the past few days, he had cared for her with such unwavering devotion that she couldn’t help but feel extremely grateful.

Compared to such generosity…

Indulging the whims of an eccentric man was hardly difficult.

Hayeon stole a sidelong glance at him.

Even now, Muhyeon was studying her from head to toe, his eyes shining with interest.

Feeling self-conscious, she forced a smile.

‘He’s… a little unusual.’

‘But he’s a good person.’

‘Yes… he really is.’

That was the conclusion Hayeon settled on.

Seeing her strained smile, Muhyeon smiled brightly in return.

“But why are you out of bed? Why didn’t you call one of the servants?”

‘Servants?’

She already felt guilty enough living in such luxury without paying a single coin.

How could he say something like that so casually?

“I’ve recovered quite a bit now, haven’t I? So… I thought I’d see if there was anything I could help with.”

“Help? With what?”

His voice was gentle, as if he found the question genuinely amusing.

The corners of his eyes softened, revealing deep dimples on his cheeks.

Without realizing it, Hayeon held her breath.

Normally, his sharply defined nose and slightly upturned eyes gave him a cold, intimidating appearance.

But when he smiled like this…

He looked like a mischievous boy.

‘Am I the only one who finds that contrast so overwhelming?’

“W-Well… housework, perhaps. You’ve done so much for me. I can’t just keep eating your food without doing anything in return…”

“Children aren’t supposed to work.”

‘Children?’

Hayeon’s eyes widened in disbelief, and she immediately shook her head.

“I’m not a child.”

“You still look like one to me.”

Silence settled between them.

‘Really… what am I supposed to say to that?’

It was both awkward…

And embarrassing.

Tap.

A large hand came to rest gently against her forehead.

“So your fever’s really gone.”

The lingering fever that had plagued her until yesterday had finally disappeared.

Even so…

It was unbearably embarrassing the way he insisted on taking her temperature himself every time.

Even more troubling was the fact that…was how casually he disregarded the boundaries between men and women.

And it didn’t end there.

While she was bedridden with a fever, he wiped the back of her neck with a cool cloth himself.

He even cupped her cheeks.

The mere memory of his ticklish warmth was enough to make her face flush.

And now…

The hand that had been resting on her forehead naturally found its way to her cheek.

He must have known how flustered it made her.

Yet every day, he took her hand as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

‘Perhaps…’

‘Perhaps he’s taking advantage of the fact that I can’t refuse him.’

She was grateful she had never forgotten the lessons her father had taught her back when he was still a merchant, before their homeland fell.

‘The more unfamiliar the person… the more you must remember that every action is, in the end, a kind of transaction.’

Life had proven those words painfully true.

‘Perhaps Lord Muhyeon… wants something far greater from me in return.’

The thought weighed heavily on her heart.

Hayeon pressed her lips together for a moment before gently taking his hand in both of hers and lowering it from her face.

“My lord… your kindness is a little too generous.”

She lacked the courage to meet his eyes, so she lowered her head as she spoke.

Unable to see his expression, she hurriedly continued,

“Forgive me… but it isn’t proper for a man and a woman to be so familiar. Touching my face like this…””A man and a woman?”

His deep voice interrupted her.

‘Did I offend him?’

Carefully, Hayeon lifted her head.

‘Surely he wouldn’t slap me for being so presumptuous…’

He didn’t seem like the sort of man who would.

Even so, she couldn’t help worrying.

Instead, his reply was completely unexpected.

“That’s right. I am a man.”

‘…Huh?’

Hayeon swallowed the question that almost escaped her lips and looked up at him.

“So… you see me as a man too.”

He nodded to himself.

“Yes… I suppose you would.”

He had asked the question…

Yet never waited for her answer.

Lord Muhyeon looked unusually pleased.

Almost… excited.

‘He really does seem like a good person…’

‘But… there’s definitely something strange about him.’

‘I need to leave this house as soon as possible.’

Hayeon silently repeated the promise she had been making to herself for days.

Her body had fully recovered.

It was time to leave.

“M-My lady!”

A startled voice came from the doorway.

It was Yuyeo, the maid who had introduced herself a few days earlier.

Carrying a basin of water, she hurried inside before immediately dropping to her knees and pressing her forehead to the floor.

“I was fetching water for your morning wash and didn’t realize you were already awake…”