ECFH 20

Chapter 20

Having abandoned all his social status to be with her, Seung-eon’s choice was something the palanquin bearer could not understand at first. But over time, he began working hard just to feed and house her.

He put down the palanquin he used to carry and picked up farming tools, heading out to till the fields. And to earn more money, he would work late into the night.

When he came back from a long day’s labor, drenched in sweat, he would take off his wet clothes and sit on the porch. Seung-eon would bring water and a washcloth, saying it was a wife’s duty, and gently wipe his body again and again.

“W-wife… You mustn’t—”

“Oh? You’re saying I can? Then I’ll do more.”

“W-wait…!”

At first, the man avoided her no matter what. But watching him now, sweating on his straight forehead as he worked hard to support her, he looked so endearing.

A tender, indescribable feeling welled up inside her. As she slid the washcloth across his broad, firm shoulders, she felt his body stiffen and his jaw clench.

He’s tense.

She almost laughed.

Seeing him clasp his hands tightly together as if trying to restrain himself, she was tempted to tease him. Suppressing a grin, Seung-eon parted her lips slightly.

“Husband, what are you thinking about so hard?”

The man, still pretending to ignore the way she wiped the sweat from his shoulders down to his back, let out a metallic rasp between his teeth.

“I… was thinking of what I can do for you, Wife.”

“For me?”

Usually reticent and not one to show his feelings, he answered,

“You trusted me enough to follow me here, so I must do everything in my power to make you happy.”

“…!”

“At the very least, you shouldn’t regret trusting me—mph!”

She couldn’t leave a man like that—laying his feelings bare, not wanting to disappoint her—alone.

Setting down the washcloth, Seung-eon hugged him tightly from behind.

When he turned in surprise, she brought her lips to his without hesitation.

“Wif—”

“Shh. Don’t speak.”

She whispered softly, and her tongue slipped between his lips, which trembled at the intrusion.

Ah…

Inside, she met his blunt tongue, which had been hiding away. At first, he only trembled and stayed still, rejecting her touch, and she frowned. But—

“Mmph!”

His resistance didn’t last.

When her tongue coaxed his, tugging at the base as if to draw him in, his arms suddenly wrapped around her waist.

“Husband…”

Breathing a little shakily, her eyes curved with mischief. When his once-stiff gaze began to burn, her smile deepened.

The moment his rough hands undid her tightly fastened clothes—oh!—a low gasp escaped her lips as she leaned into him.

“Wife…”

His breath was so hot she could hardly open her eyes. As the blissful moment went on, Seung-eon’s consciousness began to blur in his arms, until she heard him say—

“If… even… it’s…”

…What?

His voice rang faintly in her head.

“It’s closing time.”

When she snapped back to herself, a man was standing in front of her, looking down at her coldly.

Theo.

Or maybe Tae-oh.

The man before her now had the same look and atmosphere as the blond prison guard she’d met in the medieval era, and the palanquin bearer she’d met in Joseon.

With each era, his hairstyle and appearance had shifted slightly to match the times, so it wasn’t an exact match—but she knew.

It’s him.

The arrangement of features she could never forget. That lazy, slightly annoyed expression of someone who wanted nothing to do with the main characters.

And, of course, the face that kept drawing her gaze.

“Customer.”

She looked into the man’s black eyes as he stared at her.

After experiencing three random eras and meeting random characters, the goal of EC:FH was to build connections and ultimately choose true love.

As a former beta tester, Seung-eon had been drawn to the same man in two different eras, spending time with him each time.

And now, her racing heart as she looked at this man in front of her could only be the result of instinctive attraction.

“When do you get off work?”

She’d met several male characters after falling into the third stage—“the modern era”—but she ignored all their advances. Instead, she spoke to the man holding a broom, who was looking her way.

The café employee froze. On the left side of his chest, the words Partner TEO were printed.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“I told you—it’s closing time.”

“Are you free after work?”

“…What?”

“I asked if you’re free.”

He looked confused, furrowing his brows before relaxing them again. Finally, he nodded. Seung-eon smiled brightly and stood up.

“Then finish up and come outside. Let’s have dinner.”

“Me?”

He repeated the same words as before. Smiling, she asked,

“You don’t want to?”

The café employee, “TEO,” hesitated, then shook his head.

Her eyes sparkled as she said,

“I’ll think about what to eat while you’re cleaning up.”

“Why me…?”

In all three eras, given three separate choices, Seung-eon had always chosen the same man.

Hidden Character No. 928.

Not a man of dazzling status—he had been a prison guard, a humble palanquin bearer, and now a café employee taking endless orders.

Even the AI-powered NPCs seemed surprised that a “player,” meant to be the protagonist of this world, would repeatedly choose someone so unremarkable.

In a café with a sunset view, they sat together on a bench. When he asked the question, she smiled faintly.

“Well… who knows?”

Maybe she was drawn to how he always startled when she approached, then flinched when she touched him, yet eventually let her do as she pleased.

Or maybe it was because when she laced her fingers between his, he’d first freeze in surprise before giving in and holding her back even tighter.

Or perhaps it was his quiet but tender actions, the kind that lingered in her memory and refused to fade—so much so that even someone like Seung-eon, who had never given another person a second glance, couldn’t look away.

Maybe that was why she chose him.