Chapter 49

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Chapter 49

“Brother, sister-in-law!”

Entering the entrance to the vacant lot, Noah, who was standing next to the knights, saw the two of them and ran towards them with a loud voice. Min-ha opened her arms and bent over to him, who was running in front of her and Seth. At that, the child naturally ran to her arms and hugged her tightly.

Pompa said she felt sorry for her, who was stroking Noah’s hair, while the child was rubbing his face in her arms with the corners of his lips pouting.

“When he started coughing, Young Master Noah tried to look for the Madam and Your Excellency.”

“Is that so? …Oh. I’m sorry, Noah.”

“Hingg… Where did you two go?”

“Us? We were in the lake over there for a while.”

“At the lake? What about Noah?”

“Yes?”

“Why did the two of you go to the lake, leaving Noah alone?”

“Oh, that’s… There was something I had to say.”

“With brother? What do you mean?”

“Well… I mean, it’s—”

Feeling sad that they went to the lake with just the two of them while he was sleeping and that they shared a secret story, Noah cried at her answer.

She felt apologetic when she saw him like that. In her heart, if he could understand and accept it, she wanted to tell Noah the story she shared with Seth yesterday as well. Though last night, Seth had asked her not to tell anyone and there were many other people besides the child around.

Because of that, Min-ha was unable to answer anything to Noah with only an embarrassed expression on her face.

Seth, who had been standing by her the whole, held Noah in his arms before smiling at the child, who was crying. He then glanced at Min-ha and spoke.

“Noah, you must be curious about what happened last night.”

“Yes! Please, tell me as well.”

“Well, it’s a secret though. As for what we talked about last night…”

“….!”

Min-ha pulled Seth’s sleeve, who was acting as if he were telling Noah the story of last night.

…No, he was the one who told her to not tell anyone. What is this?

Nevertheless, he only smiled calmly at her actions and uttered in a whispering voice, saying it was a secret, “Your sister-in-law accepted my heart.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And, she said she would never leave you and me.”

“Wow, is it true? Then, can we continue to live together in the future?”

“Of course.”

“…Can I still call her sister-in-law?”

“Yes. Instead of calling her ‘sister-in-law,’ you should continue to call her ‘sister’ from now on.”

However, Seth’s voice, saying it was a secret, could be heard very clearly. It was audible not only to Min-ha standing next to them, but also to those around her. In an instant, she became embarrassed by the eyes of people who were focused on her.

‘What is this? This is not a public confession…’

Although she glanced at Seth who was standing next to her, he just looked at Noah and smiled.

“Yes, brother.”

“Now, I will, too, though if you ever see other people being rude to your sister-in-law, you have to protect her from that. Got it?”

“Yeah! I’ll do that!”

“Good. As expected, you’re my brother. In the next ten years, there’ll be no problem for you to become the best knight in this empire.”

“Hehe. Yes, I’ll be the coolest knight in the world, just like you!”

Seth’s gaze, which rarely smiled visibly at Noah’s following words, was for some reason now turned toward the others.

Min-ha thought that his appearance was like a threat. Such thoughts were not only for her but also for the other people, and the gazes that stared at her with surprised and curious eyes gradually gathered. She was a little embarrassed by Seth’s appearance.

Even though she had not been treated rudely by the employees in the mansion before, she thought it was a little too much to turn it around and made such a threat.

Still, strangely enough, it felt like he had fully recognized her as a member of the family, so the corner of her heart was feeling tickled.

Not wanting to be found out about such childish thoughts, she tapped Seth on the shoulder and grumbled.

“What is this… Everyone was like that in the beginning, though now, they’re all nice to me.”

“I know. This is not a warning to the people of the mansion. When we arrived at Loengram Castle, I meant it for them to take care of you and Noah while I was away… Though the honorifics again? You said you’d speak informally when it’s the two of us talking together.”

“…Oh, right. It’s becoming a habit, so I couldn’t let go of it easily.”

“Haha. If you’re uncomfortable, it’s okay to take your time. I’ll be waiting.”

“I’ll get used to it as soon as possible… No, I’ll get used to it.”

“Okay, get used to it. I’ll get used to it, too, wife. So that no one can even think of interfering between you and me.”

At her grumbling, Seth smiled and immediately answered her with a calm gaze. At the same time, Min-ha realized that another way to bind their relationship was physical contact, so she grabbed his hand. She held his hand tightly.

Feeling like he was being pushed out because of the conversation between the two of them, Noah puffed up his cheeks and shouted, holding Min-ha’s clothes, who was standing next to him, tightly as he was still in Seth’s arms.

“Brother, can’t I be between you and sister-in-law? Please, include me between you and sister-in-law!”

‘Oh, my god. He is so cute…!’

Min-ha replied while bowing her head to Noah, who was glancing up at her.

“Of course, our Noah is different.”

“Really? I’m glad!”

“Hmm, let me think.”

“What’s that reaction?”

“Well, nothing… Noah, go eat with Mrs. Pompa first. The wife and I will follow soon.”

“Yes, brother!”

However, unlike Noah, who was happy with Min-ha’s answer, Seth’s expression was not very good. It was a subtle change in his expression that she would have missed in the past, though she now noticed it. She then whispered in his ears as she gazed into his face, who glanced at Noah as he walked away.

“Seth, did something offend you? Why is your expression like that?”

“…Sometimes, I think you like Noah more than me.”

“Haha, what is this? I can’t do that?”

“Your husband is me. Even if you liked him that much, Noah would be the husband of another young girl anyway.”

To her question, Seth answered with a slightly blunt voice and then averted his gaze.

‘Oh, this man. Is he seriously jealous right now?’

Min-ha smiled softly after discovering a little childish emotion she had never seen before in his always blunt face. Hearing her laughter, Seth’s expression hardened even more than before. He covered her smiling face with his hand and kissed her briefly on the cheek.

“….!”

“Don’t laugh like I’m being childish. You’ll be upset as well if you’re in my position, too.”

“Maybe? Still, Seth, you can’t do that to Noah. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have left the Persen mansion earlier.”

“Right, that’s true. If you and Noah get close, even if we argue and you want to leave me, you won’t be able to turn your back on me so easily.”

“Why do you say that? Do you think my heart would change that easily?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I’m just saying you can’t run away from now on. I’m willing to do anything to make sure you don’t leave my side.”

“…..”

“…Don’t you think I’m scary?”

Min-ha gazed at him, who smiled bitterly, with a serious expression.

He was a person who had always felt big and relaxed, yet he was also impatient. Because of that, she was bewildered at the feelings of love from him towards her, and the appearance of Seth that she didn’t even know about.

Thinking like that, she thought that the person in front of her was cute. Her face painted an affectionate smile as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

The next moment, she went on tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

“I’m not running away, and I’ve no intention of leaving. There’s no place for me to go besides next to you and Noah?”

“If so, I’m relieved.”

“….”

“Please, continue to stay by my side like this in the future as well.”

“You as well. No, you, too.”

[ T/N: At the beginning when she said ‘You as well,’ it was written more ‘formally’ by adding the 요 in 당신도. Though she repeated the word again informally since they promised to talk more casually with each other. ]

After finishing the conversation, the two exchanged warm gazes and smiled, like the warm sunlight pouring down.

At that moment, while they were only exchanging glances without saying a word, Noah, who went to Pompa and was eating breakfast with his tiny hands, shouted at the two still standing there.

“Brother! Sister-in-law! Let’s eat together! Mrs. Pompa told me that the soup is getting cold, so hurry up and come!”

“Oh, my! Noah, when did I say that!”

“Brother, sister-in-law!”

The bewildered voice of Pompa and the shouting of Noah that followed made the two laugh. Min-ha and Seth giggled low, with their foreheads facing each other naturally.

“Then, shall we eat first?”

“Yes.”

Replying so, she took a step forward and followed Seth. As he grabbed her hand and stood next to him, they were walking side by side to Noah, who was urging them to come while patting the seat next to him with his small palm.

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