Chapter 29: “I’ll Try My Best, Then?”
She had slept, but there was still an unsettling feeling.
Even when she tried to recall her memories, not even a thread of them could be grasped. Not that she could remember any dreams either.
She had slept—but still.
Seohyo let out a deep sigh as she tried to remember the previous night.
It seemed there was nothing she could do. No point overthinking and giving herself a headache. If the memory was meant to return, it would come back on its own. For now, at least, the sleep scent Cha-eon had prepared seemed effective.
It wasn’t perfect, but at least she had slept without dreaming.
And that was what mattered.
A strange dream could ruin the mood for an entire day, leaving her unsettled.
“Maybe I’ll go for a walk.”
It seemed that there would be no customers at the apothecary today. She had a feeling it would be quiet. With her tasks already finished for the morning, a walk would also help clear her mind.
“Ugh.”
With two steps left on the stairs, Seohyo jumped lightly, stretching on her tiptoes.
Breathing in the fresh outdoor air would be a refreshing change. She also needed to stop by the bookstore to return the books she had borrowed.
A royal cuisine cookbook, of all things.
She knew she had picked up whatever was at hand, but even she had to admit it was a bit excessive. Cha-eon’s cooking was already enough.
Remember, Seohyo. Whether human or divine, one must know restraint. Wise words.
“Now, where’s the book…? Was it in Cha-eon’s room?”
As expected, the cookbook lay open on the desk, a bookmark marking the final page—proof that it had been read to the end.
Her butler had certainly worked hard.
Seohyo picked up the book.
She always followed the rule of letting the other person know whenever she went out. Following the faint sound in the quiet house, she found herself in the kitchen.
Knock, knock.
After announcing her presence, she opened the door and was immediately hit by a sweet, delicious aroma.
“Wow… what is this?”
The smell alone made her marvel.
Cha-eon smiled as he watched her inhale deeply—a warm, gentle smile, rare for him in broad daylight.
Something about it felt unfamiliar.
Seohyo instinctively froze in place.
Years of instinctive defense mechanisms kicked in. When a butler acted differently than usual, she needed to gauge the situation. When would be the best moment to retreat? And if her body gave off a danger signal, she would flee without looking back.
She had always acted this way.
“Where are you going?”
“To return the book.”
“Oh, that book… speaking of which…”
Cha-eon gestured for her to wait, then took a small shallow bowl. Approaching the pot, he ladled something into it.
Was he offering her a taste?
As he picked up a spoon for himself as well, Seohyo reached out her hand. Since he had made something delicious, she would taste it with gratitude.
Huh?
Her hand paused in midair, embarrassed. Cha-eon had placed the perfectly round, snowy rice dumpling on a spoon and was blowing on it himself to cool it.
Who did such a thing?
Cha-eon, her butler—her normally cold, disciplined butler—was personally cooling the hot dumpling for her.
Seohyo could only stare, speechless.
“It’s hot,” he said.
Yes, she could see that. The steam still rose from the pot.
But that wasn’t the point.
Seohyo wanted to ask him, ten times, twenty times, even a hundred times:
Cha-eon… what are you doing right now?
“I thought about what to make first, and this seemed easiest. There are two types of filling inside—one with black sesame, the other with caramelized sugar.”
He glanced down at the dumpling on the spoon.
“Oh, I forgot to mark which is which. You’ll have to taste it to know.”
Seohyo still couldn’t speak. Not a word.
“Now it should have cooled enough. Try it.”
She tried to take the spoon herself, but Cha-eon held it right up to her lips.
If she opened her mouth, the warm dumpling would go straight in.
Was she… supposed to eat it like this?
“Go ahead, eat.”
Oh my.
“Not going to eat it?”
She couldn’t refuse; awkwardly, she opened her mouth. Even then, it felt like half of the dumpling wouldn’t fit. Normally, this would have been a complaint, but with his gentle tone, it felt entirely different.
Strange. Very strange!
Finally, Seohyo placed the dumpling in her mouth. Carefully biting into it as warned that it might be hot, she tasted the sweet yet slightly salty sugar flavor.
Did he add soy sauce too? What else was in it?
It tasted different from the ones sold at the market. Could this be the secret of the royal palace?
For a while, she focused on chewing, noticing the one before her watching with very kind eyes.
It was so considerate she felt like she might choke from embarrassment.
“What’s inside?” she asked.
“Hmm, a tasty flavor?”
“No, the filling. Black sesame? Sugar?”
“That was sugar.”
“Oh.”
He smiled gently, his eyes forming crescent moons. Seohyo pondered, seriously considering the possibilities for her butler’s revenge.
Revenge? For what? It was impossible to pinpoint just one offense—there had been far too many.
Which one had the “poison”? Black sesame? Sugar?
Though calling it poison might be extreme, she knew poisons came in many types. Mild ones caused discomfort over a few days. It could itch the entire body or cause mild stomach pain that disappeared when you went to the bathroom.
Otherwise… why would her butler do this to her?
“Does it suit your taste?” he asked.
She nodded enthusiastically. Cha-eon’s smile didn’t leave his lips.
“That’s a relief.”
“Cha-eon… thanks for the snack, but I didn’t borrow this to actually have it made for me.”
“So what? If I actually make it, what’s wrong with that?”
He said it casually.
“If the lady enjoys it, that’s enough.”
Casually saying this, and then… wiping her mouth with his finger? Cha-eon gently wiped the moisture from her lips, leaving her stunned. How could a person change so completely overnight?
His strange behavior didn’t stop there.
After she had tasted the snack, he said it was fine to eat it after cooling slightly, tidied the kitchen, and then prepared to go out himself.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“To accompany you on your walk,” he said.
Now he was following her on a walk too.
Seohyo tried to reason it out. Cha-eon wouldn’t act like this for no reason. Something must have happened overnight.
She couldn’t remember, but he did.
“What happened?” she asked, staring at him. She was ready to accept any truth, however shocking.
“Huh?”
He looked innocently puzzled.
“What do you mean, what happened?”
“First, I should apologize. Sorry. I don’t remember anything from last night, so I’m asking… did I… do something wrong?”
He still didn’t seem to understand her question. Seohyo decided to be direct.
“Did I… attack you or something?”
He chuckled, covering his mouth.
“You have a way of joking even when serious,” he said, finally composing himself.
“Even if you did attack, I would be the one attacking, not you,” he added.
“Wait—”
“Didn’t you say you’d go for a walk? It’s chilly today; you’ll need a coat even during the day.”
Before she could protest, he draped the coat he had brought over her shoulders. Soft fur lined the collar, and the thick inner lining made it suitable for early winter.
He even buttoned it up for her, treating her like a small child.
If he kept this up, she thought, he might carry her all the way to the bookstore.
“Shall we go?”
Cha-eon naturally wrapped an arm around her waist, urging her forward. After a few steps, his arm slipped away, but Seohyo couldn’t control the flustered feelings rising inside her.
Heavens. What new trial was this?
Where had her normal butler disappeared to overnight?
She asked the sky, but as always, no answer came.
Even the bookstore owner was surprised by Cha-eon’s behavior.
The man tried his best to silently ask what was happening. Seohyo replied with gestures and facial expressions, just as she had with Ahee.
‘I have no idea. I’m doomed.’
Cha-eon’s eccentric behavior didn’t seem temporary.
Throughout the neighborhood walk, he was warm and pleasant like the late spring sun, attracting glances from passersby.
“Is there nothing you want to buy? Nothing you need?” he asked.
Seohyo politely declined, and he seemed to accept it, then suddenly asked if she felt a chill from the wind.
How many times had he adjusted her coat buttons?
Whenever Cha-eon smiled, other young women watching would sigh, yet his gaze never left Seohyo.
Finally, just before returning to the apothecary, she stopped him.
Her chest felt tight, uneasy.
“I won’t go back until I know. Cha-eon, please… tell me. What happened yesterday?”
Before he could answer, she blurted it out.
“Try telling me nothing happened. I know something did. Did I say anything silly in my sleep?”
“That story again…”
Cha-eon repeated that nothing had happened. But seeing her doubtful expression, he added:
“You did scream in your sleep, but you fell back asleep right after.”
“Screamed?”
“Yes, calling my name.”
Probably another bad dream. Since she didn’t remember it, she had no response. But then, how could one explain Cha-eon’s change today?
He shook his head. It seemed he had completely surrendered to her persistence.
“Alright. I’ll admit it,” he said.
Finally, an answer she could grasp. Seohyo perked up her ears.
“I’ve decided not to hide it anymore.”
His gaze on her was serious.
“Is it wrong to show someone you like that you like them?”
Such a direct confession.
Seohyo froze, looking at him. Then she glanced around—making sure no one had overheard.
Fortunately, no one was nearby.
If there had been, her face would have turned several shades redder.
Cha-eon watched her shy demeanor and asked with a playful smile:
“You’re surprisingly bashful for someone who’s stolen my lips so many times.”
Bashful? Of course she was!
To receive a confession in the middle of the street in broad daylight…
The passionate kisses were private, but now he was confessing openly.
And he liked her.
Although she had felt it before, hearing it verbally was shocking.
“Oh, your reaction is a bit milder than expected,” he teased, leaning closer.
Was he about to kiss her here? Her startled expression made him smile even more.
“Do you dislike me?”
“No, I don’t. Not at all.”
Her answer came instantly.
“Well, considering how persistently I’ve approached you, I’d have been hurt if it weren’t sincere.”
Hurt? Normally, the neighborhood puppy would have been rolling on the floor laughing at that.
Cha-eon could feel hurt? Then she’d feel mentally wounded too. Her thoughts wouldn’t work properly.
He walked with a soft smile, and Seohyo reluctantly followed, noticing his pace matched hers.
How did it come to this?
Accepting the confession in a daze, Seohyo replayed the past events.
Had it really happened? Could this be called fate?
Even now, it didn’t feel real. She thought he might retract his words later.
‘Fooled me?’
With that mischievous smile of his.
But it didn’t happen.
Walking slowly back to the apothecary, a ruckus could be heard from a nearby alley.
A well-dressed woman came around the corner with a few companions. Red decorations adorned her, and flute players followed behind.
She seemed to be the recently moved-in neighbor who had already held a wedding. She had an adult son.
Passing by, Seohyo recalled glimpsing her face before.
The red-clad woman was handing out rice cakes to neighbors.
A bad feeling rose.
Seohyo usually got along well with the local women, but right now she wanted to avoid them.
But the women were quicker.
“Oh, you’re from the apothecary!”
Approaching with cheerful faces, Seohyo couldn’t ignore them. She smiled politely and waited.
“I was thinking of visiting the apothecary, but I ran into you. Lucky timing!”
“Hello, ma’am.”
“Our son got married today. We’re handing out rice cakes to the neighbors too,” she explained.
She gestured, and a maid quickly handed a plate of steaming rice cakes.
Cha-eon took it naturally.
“I haven’t stopped by the apothecary yet.”
“It’s better not to come too often, as it’s a place for the sick.”
Still, she invited them to visit another time. The lady clapped her hands happily.
Seohyo tried to politely end the interaction.
“I’ve seen it in passing,” she said.
But the lady continued, and Seohyo smiled again, resuming her guest-like demeanor.
“You make a lovely young couple.”
Seohyo’s eyes widened. Unfortunately, none of the rice cake recipients were locals—meaning no one could correct the misunderstanding.
“The new bride is young, bright, and capable. And the groom is handsome. I was shocked seeing him on the street!”
Seohyo’s mouth opened slightly. The lady was going on enthusiastically, and correcting her now would be awkward.
Her face burned just listening.
Lady, we’re not married!
We’ve just had a fresh confession. She was more comfortable calling him her butler than anything else.
“Work hard, young man. Your modest shop has a charm of its own.”
The lady seemed to like Cha-eon, patting his hand repeatedly.
“My husband and I have worked hard on our little shop. You two are still young.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cha-eon replied, giving her a rare warm smile.
Honestly, that was unfair.
For a moment, she forgot about her husband and son at home.
“How could he be so handsome…”
Seohyo looked away, deciding to distract herself. Maybe a few birds would pass by.
“They’re beautiful and handsome, so the children will turn out well, right?”
“Smooth as jade, I bet,” someone added.
“Yes,” said another.
But the real blow came from Cha-eon’s response to the lady’s advice about thinking of family:
“I’ll try my best, then.”
Giggling!
The laughter of a satisfied crowd echoed. After the group passed, a late-autumn wind blew.
No matter how cold, it couldn’t shake Seohyo’s mind.
“Shall we go inside?”
Cha-eon looked at her curiously. Today, the apothecary door looked unusually dangerous.
