SATURDAY 74

“Inyoung….”

“….”

“Inyoung, you were lonely, weren’t you.”

“A-ah, no….”

I was going to say no, that I wasn’t lonely. That there was never a time I felt lonely. That I was perfectly fine….

When I was imitating Inha in front of Mr. Taeseon a while ago, saying ‘Yoon Inyoung was perfectly fine’ had been my sincere truth.

However, I suddenly began to think. Was that really my sincere truth? I had always lived with the thought that I was fine, but perhaps that was similar to not even knowing you’re injured when you haven’t yet noticed a deep wound.

“I won’t be able to fill the entire place of your family.”

Mr. Taeseon said quietly.

“Family is family, after all…. People who share blood, the only ones in the world. But I promise. I will make sure you don’t have to think about your family anymore.”

As he said that, Mr. Taeseon took something out from his person and, with a click, held it out in front of me. I had to blink in surprise for a moment upon seeing it. What he gave me was a ring inside a deep navy blue box.

It wasn’t excessive, yet it was luxurious, with a design that would suit either a man or a woman. It shared the same DNA as the main design of this brand, yet it was different. A ring with two strands set with small diamonds woven together around a large center diamond. The brilliant radiance made me daze out for a moment.

“There was a communication error during the customization, so it got delayed a bit. I wanted to give it to you sooner.”

“Ah…. But….”

But, I had already received an engagement ring. Back when Mr. Taeseon proposed to me. Mr. Taeseon had performed a very classic proposal, filling a hotel room with balloons, plastic candles, and roses, and preparing champagne and cake. It had a bit of a playful side to it, too.

Back then, hadn’t I received a lavish ring, even if it wasn’t quite as much as this one? The problem… is that I don’t have that ring now. As I blinked in flustered confusion, Mr. Taeseon smiled, knelt on one knee before me, and asked.

“Will you accept it?”

“O-of course. It’s so beautiful. But… I already received a ring.”

“That was that.”

“Pardon? How can you say that.”

I protested weakly, but Mr. Taeseon took my left hand and slipped the ring onto my ring finger.

The one I received back then was a proposal ring, and because it looked so extravagant and expensive, I had been too scared to even wear it, keeping it tucked away.

Come to think of it, if I had been wearing the ring at the time of the accident, all of this might not have happened.

“If you had been wearing a ring when the accident happened, you would have injured your hand. And the ring would have been ruined, too.”

“….”

I stared intently at Mr. Taeseon’s face. It was because I wondered if he was truly reading my mind. Mr. Taeseon smiled while stroking my hand that wore the ring.

“What are you looking at like that. I told you, it’s written all over your face.”

My left hand is very cold because I am receiving an IV. Mr. Taeseon gently massaged that cold left hand with both of his, starting from where the ring sat, and then pressed his lips to it. Since he let go of my hand afterward, I carefully lifted my left hand and looked at the ring.

Both the brand and the shape were completely different from the one I received last time. Speaking of which, where is the one I got then… ah.

My mother completely cleared out all my belongings that were at the house. I hadn’t even thought about it, but she surely threw away my ring back then too. Since a new ring would be made once Mr. Taeseon married Inha.

I felt the blood drain from my face in an instant. My mouth hung open as I looked back at Mr. Taeseon. Mr. Taeseon was smiling faintly. He had anticipated that and prepared a new ring.

“…Inyoung, from now on, I’m going to officially find you your rightful place and kick Yoon Inha out of this world.”

“….”

“I don’t care what your parents think. I’ll take care of the Shaman and Professor Jang. You can just go back to living as the person you were born as, Yoon Inyoung.”

At those words, I still mumbled hesitantly.

“But a death report has already been filed. That’s why things like this can’t even be made in my name…. I’m a person who doesn’t exist in this world right now.”

When I pointed to my hospital wristband while saying things like this, Mr. Taeseon nodded.

“All of that can be corrected. Besides, it’s a matter involving a crime. Don’t worry, I’ll solve everything.”

In fact, until now, Mr. Taeseon had never been this proactive regarding my family matters. Perhaps he had been trying to approach me slowly, knowing I was bound to my family. That was why this was my first time seeing such a firm attitude.

I’ll solve everything—had I ever heard words like those? Had anyone ever stepped forward so proactively in my affairs to reassure me?

The moment I heard those words, a surge of relief and expectation rushed in. Perhaps I have a more dependent personality than I thought.

Mr. Taeseon continued.

“The ring… it’s to signify that we are starting over. Inyoung. I won’t be able to apologize for or resolve everything I said and did back then through words alone, but… I’ll spend the rest of my life saying I’m sorry.”

“Ah, no, Mr. Taeseon didn’t know what was happening. You don’t need to apologize like that.”

It was likely because of the Shaman’s spell. I suspect that the Shaman might have placed Inha’s soul over my body. However, since it wasn’t a very strong spell to begin with, it was broken by a simple catalyst.

After that, there was no one who unconditionally saw me as “Yoon Inha.” I didn’t meet many people, but my uncle and Chief Shin both have different attitudes now, as if they were released from a magic spell.

Even in the hospital, whatever Mr. Taeseon did, it’s only written as Yoon Inha on the patient name and wristband; everyone is treating me completely as “Yoon Inyoung.”

Checking the patient’s name was an incredibly important procedure. Furthermore, Inha and I had different medical histories, medications, and even allergies up until now. It doesn’t seem like the hospital is calling me “Mr. Yoon Inyoung” simply to reassure me.

“Mr. Taeseon, but… what did you say to the hospital? How can they call me Yoon Inyoung?”

“I just said the death report was a mistake.”

I fell silent for a moment at the simple answer.

“I said the death report was wrong and that it would be corrected soon. I asked them to take good care of you because the patient is under severe stress from being called Yoon Inha.”

“Does that actually work?”

Mr. Taeseon shrugged. It was meaningless to ask this. The hospital is already doing exactly as Mr. Taeseon requested. I don’t know if the hospital is lax or if Mr. Taeseon’s power is just that formidable.

‘Inha….’

Thinking of ‘Inha,’ it suddenly occurred to me that there are still remaining problems. Since the time most people—excluding my parents—began to recognize me as Yoon Inyoung, I have been seeing Inha continuously.

It’s a fact the Shaman knows as well. She even told me. Asking if I didn’t see Inha in my dreams. As if she were certain.

I suspect that the reason I keep seeing Inha is perhaps due to the Shaman’s spell. Inha’s soul is still wandering—no, it is staying by my side.

“Inyoung?”

Mr. Taeseon’s voice broke me out of my brief immersion in thought. I snapped my head up. He was looking at me with a worried face.

I forced a smile and lowered my gaze to the ring. The moment I saw the sparkling ring, I felt all the serious thoughts I had until a moment ago melt away.

“The ring is really so beautiful. Thank you, Mr. Taeseon.”

“…What are you thanking me for. I’m the more thankful one.”

And then, he hesitated for a moment, unlike himself, before speaking.

“I will never forget what happened back then for the rest of my life. But I want you to forget it.”

I quietly lifted my head and looked at Mr. Taeseon. Mr. Taeseon firmly grasped my left hand, which had regained its warmth, and said:

“It’s not a good memory.”

That….

“That’s… true. Back then, to be honest, I resented you a lot, Mr. Taeseon.”

“Yes.”

“I felt you were heartless.”

“I know.”

“I thought that even if I became an infant, you would be able to recognize me, Mr. Taeseon….”

Yes, Mr. Taeseon said, his eyes drooping sorrowfully as if he were troubled. Looking at Mr. Taeseon like that, I no longer felt the desire to pour out my lingering hurt feelings. When his eyes droop like that, his usual blunt impression vanishes and he takes on a strangely endearing face… it’s cute.

I reached out with my hand wearing the ring and stroked Mr. Taeseon’s cheek, as he was positioned lower than me. Mr. Taeseon quietly tilted his head to the side and leaned his cheek into my hand. It wasn’t to the point where I could feel his full weight, but it was very warm and lovely.

Mr. Taeseon placed his hand over mine and said:

“Inyoung, from now on, I’m going to start preparing to handle Shin Myeonghwa and Jang Sehyeon in earnest.”

“…Ha-handle them?”

When I flinched at the chilling word ‘handle,’ Mr. Taeseon laughed.

“They’re people who might do heaven knows what as long as they’re alive.”