Bora moved closer to Haneul as Taekyun left, sliding down beside him.
Haneul looked at her with wide, innocent eyes.
"Are you feeling okay?"
She asked softly.
Haneul nodded. "Yes."
"And… what happened last night?"
Bora's voice was gentle but curious.
Haneul's brow furrowed.
" I don't remember. I was about to ask you."
Bora tilted her head, her gaze sharp yet calm.
"Do you know what you did last night with Sir Taekyun?"
Haneul's eyes widened, panic flickering across his face. He reached for her hand.
"No, I don't remember anything when I'm in heat. Please, tell me what I did."
"You confessed to him,"
She said simply.
Haneul blinked. "I confessed?"
Bora nodded.
"You told him you like him."
Haneul's throat went dry.
" I do"
He swallowed hard, and then, slowly, nodded.
Bora smiled softly.
"You're brave.
But Haneul… listen to me.
Whatever you feel in your heart from now on keep it. Don't do that again."
Haneul's eyes searched hers.
"But why? I really like him. I'm not lying."
Bora sighed, her mind racing.
As she thought.
What I tell you now…
How I explain it to you Haneul
The world you belong to is the same world that took the eldest child from the Kims.
They won't want this again even for their daughter-in-law. They still think it's because of Eunoia.
Bora said softly
"How do you know you like him?"
Haneul's gaze softened.
"I know I like him because he's good to me. He gives me shelter, food he takes care of me."
Bora's expression tightened.
"But he also kicked you out."
Haneul looked down.
"He's not a bad person. He's not like the others he protected me."
Bora's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Is everyone in your world like this, Haneul?"
Haneul nodded.
"Yes. They're kind, helpful like Taekyun."
Bora smiled and nodded slowly.
"Okay but for now, whatever you feel, keep it inside.
Until Sir Taewon tells you otherwise, or asks you himself."
Haneul nodded, but hesitated.
"Can you bring my things here?
As, I'm going to stay here."
Bora smiled.
"Okay."
By afternoon,
Haneul had spent hours in his room.
When Bora brought him lunch, he asked casually,
"Where's Haru? Is she still asleep?"
Bora blinked.
"Don't you know she's not home? Sir said she'd be coming tomorrow."
Haneul frowned.
"Where did she go?"
"To her grandparents' house,"
Bora replied.
Haneul's eyes widened.
"She has grandparents?
They must be good"
Bora smirked.
"They're stricter than Taekyun."
Haneul tilted his head.
"Why are they so cold? Is everything okay?"
"They're just afraid,"
Bora said lightly.
"Afraid of what?"
Bora smiled faintly.
"Leave it. Eat your meal. Haru will come maybe tomorrow, maybe yesterday and then you'll meet her."
Haneul nodded, but curiosity gnawed at him.
[In evening]
Taekyun returned home.
Haneul waited in his room, heart racing.
He heard Taekyun's footsteps. But stayed in room.
After some time,
A soft knock echoed through the room.
Haneul's head snapped toward the door, curiosity sparking in his wide eyes.
He thought it might be Taekyun, but it was Bora who entered, carrying her usual calm composure.
"Haneul, I'm leaving,"
She said gently,
"and if you need anything, just call me."
Haneul nodded quickly, watching her every movement.
Bora smiled faintly at him.
"Also… Sir Taekyun is calling you to his study.
Go there around nine. He'll be waiting."
Haneul's heart skipped a beat.
He nodded eagerly, almost hurrying in place, his small hands fidgeting.
Bora's eyes softened as she observed his reaction.
"Be careful with your words, Haneul,"
She advised.
"I will,"
He replied softly.
With a final nod, Bora left the room, leaving Haneul alone.
He waited quietly, ears straining for any sound from Taekyun's room.
Since Taekyun's room was right across from his, he could easily tell when he came out.
Minutes passed, and the chill of the evening seeped into Haneul's small body.
He sank to the floor, wrapping his arms around his knees like a little penguin, eyes fixed on Taekyun's door.
A faint click of the lock pulled his attention up.
Taekyun emerged, night clothes neat, laptop and files in hand.
Their eyes met, and he simply nodded at Haneul.
"You… want to talk with me?"
Haneul asked timidly.
Taekyun looked at him, nodded once, then turned.
"Come with me to the study."
Haneul's heart thumped as he followed him downstairs.
Inside the study,
Taekyun set the files and laptop on the desk, taking his chair.
Haneul's small hands gripped together nervously as he entered, eyes scanning the room.
"Sit,"
Taekyun instructed, glancing at him.
Haneul nodded, lowering himself carefully into the chair, feeling Taekyun's gaze on him.
After a moment of quiet,
Taekyun's voice broke the tension. "Haneul… by now, you know that travelers in this world aren't safe, right?"
Haneul nodded seriously.
"I want you to do something,"
Taekyun continued, eyes sharp.
Haneul tilted his head, curiosity sparking. "Wh-what do I do?"
"Most servants in residence know you're a traveler Omega, but they don't know where you're from,"
Taekyun explained.
"So you need to hide it."
Haneul's eyes widened, but he nodded quickly.
"I won't... I'll hide it."
Taekyun's gaze softened fractionally, but his voice remained firm.
"Bora will take care of everything for you. Aside from her don't share your secret with anyone.
And Don't get close to anyone."
Haneul nodded, silent.
Taekyun leaned back slightly.
After a minute of silence Haneul said,
"You've never asked me why I came here to this world."
Taekyun frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You know I came looking for my brother, Jiwon, he's my older brother"
Haneul said quietly, his gaze dropping.
"He came to this world a long time ago accidentally, but he never came back. I tried to follow him… but since I arrived, I've been running.
I don't even know if I'm in the right world."
Taekyun's jaw tightened at the name, his mind storming with memories he had buried, resentment rising.
The person he had hated his whole life the one he refused to accept was confirmed now because Haneul had mentioned him.
His blood boiled. Past memories flooded in.
Haneul watched in concern as Taekyun's face darkened, the sudden redness in his expression freezing him in place.
Haneul called him softly, several times, but Taekyun didn't respond.
Worried, Haneul took a cautious step forward but his foot caught in the carpet.
He tumbled, landing straight onto Taekyun like a little cat, head resting against his chest.
The sudden closeness released an intense wave of pheromones, hitting Taekyun full force.
Haneul stammered, "Sorry!"
And scrambled to get up but his balance failed him.
Taekyun's eyes widened, dazed, his control slipping.
Haneul, still unsteady, tried to rise, and his hand brushed over Taekyun's sensitive area.
The reaction was instant:
Taekyun's hand shot out, gripping Haneul's wrist.
He couldn't maintain his composure.
Before Haneul could react, he toppled again this time forward, landing directly against Taekyun's face.
Their lips met in a sudden, tight kiss. Haneul's soft, trembling warmth pressed against Taekyun's cold, firm lips, and the Alpha staggered, overwhelmed by the intense surge of pheromones and emotion.
Haneul froze, heart hammering, not fully realizing what he had done.
Taekyun's body went limp beneath him, his mind a haze of instinct, desire, and shock.