“....”
She must’ve been flustered—she didn’t say anything for a while.
Her lips moved a few tis, but no sound ca out. She just stared blankly at .
I’d thought she was a very beautiful and dignified woman, but seeing her like this... it even felt kind of cute.
“...Pardon for a mont—our lady is—”
“Did I say it was okay for anyone to speak?”
That clueless glasses guy butted in.
I cut him off imdiately and raised my index finger.
“First off: I don’t like it when n speak in front of . Second: if they’re beneath , it’s even worse. Third: jumping into a conversation uninvited is presumptuous. Does the Ashford family not teach its servants basic manners like that?”
“....”
I was looking at the glasses guy as I spoke, but I turned my gaze to Anastasia for that last part.
Her neatly arched brows and the space between them twitched—irritatingly, in a way I liked.
“I’m sorry to say this upon first eting you, but I’m a little disappointed in the Ashford family.”
“What do you—”
“Robert, be quiet. Don’t say anything.”
“L-Lady...!”
So his na’s Robert? God, that’s tacky.
“I apologize for Robert’s discourtesy. However, Mr. Muyeol, your remarks are a bit bewildering. I understood the marriage talks had already fallen through?”
“Oh, and fourth. I really hate when my woman says another man’s na. I’d like you to correct that imdiately.”
“....”
That’s the kind of face that says, what kind of bastard is this?
She probably never imagined she’d be greeted like this.
But what can I do? It annoys .
Whether he’s a Robert or a Robutt or whatever, it’s outrageous for a man to be hovering around my woman.
“Let’s just call him a secretary or whatever. And I’d like you to leave us now.”
“....”
The two of them shook their heads in disbelief.
But soon, Anastasia told Robert to wait outside, and Robert, biting his lip in frustration, finally left the room.
“As you requested, Rob—no, the secretary has been removed. Is there anything else you desire?”
She seed a little annoyed.
The pitch of her voice rose slightly and it ca off sharper.
Still, for a woman, it was a rather deep and dignified tone.
“Hmm, nothing in particular right now. See? One-on-one etings really are the way to go. Much better to look at.”
“...I assu you had a reason for making send my secretary out. May I ask directly?”
“I already told you. The man bothered .”
“...It's hard to accept that you made such an absurd demand over sothing so trivial, but... fine. If that’s your explanation.”
But I was serious.
Really. I kicked him out simply because he annoyed .
“To begin with, in celebration of Victory Day, we’d like to congratulate your nation and your company—”
Anastasia began listing off formalities.
Sothing about congratulating us on Victory Day, hoping for a continued relationship between Korea and Koryo Group... the usual banal nonsense.
I responded with similarly vague niceties until the conversation circled back to the marriage talks.
“You referred to earlier as your woman. What did you an by that?”
“Exactly what it sounded like.”
“...Why am I your woman? Koryo rejected the marriage proposal, did they not? I see no reason I would be considered yours.”
“You’re misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“Our family rejected the proposal not because it was out of the question, but because I’m too young and still have much to experience. If we were to build ties with Arica, we’d welco it.”
Of course, Min-young and Hayoung would hate it.
“I don’t see how that makes any difference. A rejection is still a rejection. To act like you can now exert control over as if I were yours—it’s not a good look.”
“I’m not trying to look good, so don’t worry about it.”
“....”
That one clearly got to her.
Her face flushed, and I could hear her breath.
“So, what exactly are you proposing? That we resu the marriage talks?”
“Haah, that’d be difficult for now. My aunts are a bit intense. Given my age, it’s still a bit heavy to go around tossing the word ‘marriage’ carelessly. Wouldn't it be better to treat it as a phase of getting to know one another? You could set up a Korean branch.”
“Are you... suggesting we date?”
“If you want to call it that, sure.”
“....”
She stayed silent for about a minute before finally speaking again.
“Very well. I’ll assu you have sincere intentions toward building a favorable relationship with ... and with my family. I also have a few conditions—”
“I don’t accept conditions.”
“...Excuse ?”
“I don’t think we’re at the stage yet where we’re listing detailed demands. Let’s just stick to the basics. Common sense things.”
“...Haven’t you been making all sorts of demands of since earlier?”
“Well, as I said, no n around you. I understand there may be unavoidable work circumstances, but for all other positions—like secretaries—please replace them with won. Especially that rude guy from earlier. He must be replaced.”
“Ha...”
“Obviously, you’re not to be involved with anyone else romantically. And you shouldn’t be spending unnecessary ti around other n either.”
“Are you finished?”
“Hmm... I’ve got a few more thoughts, but they’re all similar. In short: maintain chastity and loyalty. Oh, do you understand what I an by that?”
“Yes. I understand clearly. Let’s pretend the talk about ‘dating’ never happened.”
She picked up her small purse and stood, clearly irritated.
Seems my attitude really rubbed her the wrong way.
“You said you were disappointed # Nоvеlight # earlier. Well, I’m the one who’s disappointed. I didn’t expect Koryo Group’s hospitality to be this pathetic.”
“You seem to misunderstand things often.”
“...What?”
I took a sip of tea.
It was warm.
“Our company’s level of hospitality isn’t lacking.”
Tap.
I set the teacup back down.
“It’s you, Ms. Anastasia, who’s at that level.”
“...!”
“If I’ve offended you, I apologize. But in the end, weren’t you more or less sold off? Pushed here by your family’s internal politics.”
“....”
“Even though the proposal was rejected, you still ca here under various pretenses. At this point, it looks like you’re the one who couldn’t let go.”
She kept glaring at ... then left the room without a word.
“I’ll assign you a secretary~! Leave your number with her!”
SLAM.
“What a brat.”
Slurp.
“Mmm~. Delicious. Tea really should be steeped.”
“Koryo Group, who claims to dominate Asia, is seriously operating at this level...?!”
“....”
Having heard what happened with Muyeol, Robert was in an uproar.
He hadn’t heard everything, but what little he did was enough to infuriate him.
To think soone would disrespect and trample all over the person he’d pledged to serve for life...!
“They don’t even have the most basic manners for handling guests. No matter how much I try to chalk it up to cultural differences, it’s just... incomprehensible. Is this truly Koryo’s official stance?”
“Robert, quiet. I’m thinking.”
“L-Lady...!”
While Robert raged, Anastasia slumped diagonally into the sofa, deep in thought.
She always maintained perfect posture around others, but when alone, she tended to let herself go.
Even now, she was holding back because Robert was still here. If he weren’t, she’d already be sprawled on the sofa—or the floor.
“He’s not normal. Usually people would exchange pleasantries, flatter each other, then leave on a good note. But he just blurted everything out. Like he’s advertising that he’s a total madman.”
“...He’s just the problem. Isn’t Go Muyeol the guy who even our holand talks about from ti to ti? They said he got his act together, but clearly that habit never really left. He’s not soone worth associating with. Lady, it’s ti to make a decision...!”
“I told you to be quiet, Robert.”
“...I-I apologize.”
Even after Robert backed off, she stayed lost in thought, chin resting on her hand.
Why did Go Muyeol treat her so harshly?
Was he really just a lunatic with no sense?
‘...That can’t be it. No matter what, a grandson of Koryo Group couldn’t possibly be that thoughtless.’
She pondered.
Maybe... it was a smokescreen.
“He quit drugs cold turkey and turned $1.5 billion into $150 billion in just one year. Do you believe a man like that just goes around speaking on a whim, without a shred of calculation?”
“...But the way he treated you—”
“Attitude is just one part of the act.”
“...So you think he has so kind of sche?”
Anastasia rubbed her jaw and gave a faint nod.
“That’s how it seems.”
“....”
“He spent years indulging in drugs and won, living like a beast—then suddenly sobered up and started building his power, step by step. It’s a story I’ve read plenty of tis in history books.”
“That’s...!”
“Go Muyeol... he’s an orphan, right?”
“...Yes. Not born one—his parents died in an accident when he was young.”
“A chaebol heir whose parents accidentally died.”
Anastasia scoffed.
As if the idea was too absurd to entertain.
“Seems like things are just as cutthroat on their side as they are on ours. Even the orphans crawl out.”
She figured Go Muyeol must have survived a blood-soaked childhood.
After all, so had she.
The people you should’ve been able to trust the most—family—were always the least trustworthy.
The ones who should’ve been the kindest were the cruelest.
Power runs thicker than blood.
“For an orphan like Go Muyeol, what was the best way to protect himself from family mbers who were itching to kill him? Acting like a beast.
‘I’m just a mad dog. I know nothing. I care about nothing. All I want is to eat, drink, and chase won.’”
She straightened up from her slouched posture.
Sat up tall, tucked her chin, and assud a perfectly upright stance.
“Even now, as he slowly straightens his spine, Go Muyeol is still putting on an act. Still playing the lunatic. I’d bet his reputation for womanizing is part of that performance, too. A tactic to make people underestimate him.”
She’d reached her conclusion.
Go Muyeol is a hidden dragon, pretending to be a mad dog.
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