CHAPTER 61……………………………………..
Hongwongak.
Do-un slid open the tatami door and sat down in front of Wada.
“Good day, Wada-san.”
He knew he was an uninvited guest, but he wasn’t in the mood to care about Wada’s displeasure.
“So, what brings you here? Judging by your rudeness in barging in, it must be something important.”
As expected, Wada openly showed his discomfort at Do-un’s sudden visit.
Do-un tried to curl his lips into a smile, but his stiff expression wouldn’t budge. His insides felt like they were burning, making it impossible to respond calmly.
“I came despite the discourtesy because I have something urgent to tell you.”
“Something urgent?”
“I know that you’ve had the police tailing me.”
“W-what? Hmph—”
Wada was visibly shaken by the sudden remark.
He had never imagined that Do-un had caught on to Yoshihara’s identity. Underestimating him had put him in a difficult position.
“W-what are you talking about? That’s a misunderstanding!”
“I didn’t come here to complain, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Ahem… then why are you here?”
“To clear up your misunderstanding—and to report something even more urgent. I am not someone who would ever betray our homeland.”
“I know well enough how loyal you are. However—”
“Yes, I know. It’s because of my father. My fault is my father’s fault as well.”
At the mention of his father, Count Lee Kang-won, Wada’s eyes narrowed.
His deep-seated hostility toward Do-un’s father became evident once more.
But Wada smoothly denied it.
“Your father and I are old friends. Governor Saito himself recognized his devotion to the Empire and even granted him a count title—why would I hold a grudge against him?”
“Wada-san, as I said, I would never betray our homeland. So how about we resolve this matter in a different way?”
“A different way? What do you mean?”
“I’m offering to help you make a major contribution by capturing the rebellious Koreans.”
“What? The rebels? How would you do that?”
Wada’s eyes sharpened, clearly intrigued by the prospect of earning merit.
“I am in contact with them. They think I’m one of them… but in truth, it’s the opposite. I’ve only been associating with them to report them.”
“Are you saying you’re a double agent?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“Then why should I believe you? Why tell me instead of your father?”
Suspicion flickered in Wada’s eyes.
If it were truly valuable information, it would make more sense to give the credit to his own family.
But Do-un calmly delivered the line he had prepared.
“It’s true I started this double-agent role under my father’s orders. However, we’ve recently had a disagreement, and I can no longer continue.”
“What do you mean?”
“I learned that my father intends to use this information on the rebels to push me into politics.”
“Politics? Speak clearly.”
Wada frowned openly now.
He viewed Koreans as second-class citizens; the idea of Do-un entering politics was enough to anger him.
Knowing this well, Do-un continued, carefully playing to Wada’s mindset.
“My apologies, I spoke out of turn. My father wants me to shut down my business here and move to Gyeongseong to train at the Government-General.”
“At the Government-General? He plans to secure you a position?”
“Yes. His ambition was for me to use this report as a stepping stone.”
“To think he harbored such ambitions!”
“But Wada-san, I don’t want that. No matter how loyal I am, I know my place.”
“Your place… indeed. You’re wiser than your father. Politics is for those of noble blood. Even in the homeland, it’s not for just anyone.”
Do-un nodded as if in agreement.
He needed to appear humble—and greedy at the same time. He carefully performed the role Wada expected of a “Korean.”
“You’re absolutely right. Politics is beyond me. More than anything, abandoning the business I’ve built… I have no desire for power. But money… yes, money is something I thought I could still have. Even as a Korean, having wealth in these turbulent times isn’t a bad thing.”
“Wise. Very wise. I completely agree.”
Wada nodded, seemingly convinced.
Sensing the softened atmosphere, Do-un drove in the final nail.
“So I wish to report the rebels to you. I want to keep my business.”
“Hahaha! It’s been a while since I’ve seen such ambition in a young man!”
Wada laughed heartily, clearly pleased.
He poured Do-un a drink, and Do-un accepted it.
“Alright then—what do you want from me in return?”
“My purpose in reporting them is to avoid being pushed into politics. I don’t want anything more. However…”
“However?”
“Please support the expansion of my business. The railway project the Government-General is pushing—I’d like to be involved.”
“What? How do you know about that?”
“I’ve been in this field for three years. Of course I know. Wada-san, I want to grow my company solidly. I don’t want to remain in Joseon forever.”
“So you want to go to the homeland.”
“Of course. So please help me spread my wings.”
“…Very well. I’ll trust you this once.”
“Thank you, Wada-san.”
“Then speak. Tell me everything you know about these rebels.”
Wada’s eyes gleamed as he finally got to the point.
Meanwhile, Cho-hee kept her eyes on the room Do-un had entered.
She had worked briefly at Hongwongak before. Having cleaned countless rooms, she knew which were empty and how they connected.
“That room… was definitely for high-ranking guests…”
Meeting a woman there? Something didn’t add up.
Quietly, she moved to the empty room next door.
She had eavesdropped on Do-un and Minamoto before—she thought she could do it again.
She was too curious about who he was meeting to stop herself.
Kneeling by the paper door, she pressed her ear against it.
Faintly, she heard Do-un and an unfamiliar man.
“I am in contact with those rebels.”
The word “rebels” sent a chill down her spine. She leaned closer.
“Are you saying you’re a double agent?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
A double agent?
Her face turned pale as she clamped a hand over her mouth.
What… what is this?
From the context, Do-un was admitting it.
A double agent… then was the “independence fighter” she believed him to be a lie?
In her confusion, his voice came again.
“But money… yes, money is something I thought I could still have. Even as a Korean…”
So it really was about money?
Her hands began to tremble.
She had known his business was thriving—his clothes, his meals, everything far beyond ordinary Koreans.
But after learning he was an independence fighter, she had thought it was all a cover.
But what if it wasn’t?
What if he truly chose business… even over his country?
Her body, kneeling in shock, collapsed forward.
It would’ve been better if he were meeting another woman…
At least then she’d have a reason to give up her unrequited love.
But she never imagined facing something this ugly.
“Lee Kang-won… a count?”
Another unknown truth.
A “count” in Joseon meant only one thing.
Traitors. Those who sold out the country.
How much must he have sold out Joseon to be granted such a title?
And Do-un—how much had he enjoyed under that?
She thought she understood him.
But she realized she didn’t know him at all.
His ambition, his identity…
Maybe… I was the one mistaken from the start.
He had made a contract with her for his business.
She had been the one to assign deeper meaning to it.
Then everything he showed me… was it all a lie?
Her thoughts tangled into chaos.
When had he become a traitor? Or had he always been one?
Then what about his fallen comrades? His scars?
Were they not from fleeing the police—but from fighting independence fighters?
And Park Jin—did Do-un really help him escape?
Or had he handed him over?
“I never saw Park Jin’s end myself… I only heard from Do-un…”
A sharp ringing filled her ears.
Park Jin’s face overlapped with Shinsil’s.
“Hah… hngh…”
Her breathing grew ragged, something inside her collapsing.
She had thought she was unrelated to the independence movement.
Yet her father had been involved.
Her brother had chased that same ideal.
Shinsil. Park Jin.
All of them had pursued it with passion.
And above all, Do-un’s determination had moved her heart.
The idea of someone she loved wanting a free homeland—it overwhelmed her.
She had planned to tell him everything.
That she knew who he was.
That she wanted to help, even a little.
That she wanted to walk the same path as him.
But now—
It had all been a misunderstanding.
“Ah…”
She covered her mouth to suppress her sobs.
She couldn’t be discovered.
Crawling out of the room, she hurried outside, careful not to be seen.
“Hngh…”
Tears—or sweat—poured down.
Leaning against the wall of Hongwongak, she collapsed.
