The amusement park was filled with laughter, music, and the excited voices of children.
For the first time in a long while, the residence's usually quiet atmosphere had been replaced by something much louder.
Haru was enjoying every second of it.
Taeha was slowly becoming more excited with each ride.
And even little Seoah was happily looking around at all the colorful attractions.
Bora, Mina, and Lihan stayed nearby, keeping an eye on the children.
Meanwhile, Taekyun had taken Haneul somewhere else.
"Come."
Taekyun gently held Haneul's hand and led him toward another section of the park.
Haneul looked around curiously.
"Where are we going?"
Taekyun glanced at him.
"Somewhere quieter."
Haneul smiled.
"You brought everyone here..... and now you're taking me..... away from them?"
Taekyun's lips curved slightly.
"They're enjoying themselves."
He tightened his hold on Haneul's hand.
"And I want some time with you too."
Haneul's cheeks warmed slightly.
"Okay."
Nearby, the children were enjoying one of the horse rides.
Haru and Taeha sat together on one of the colorful horses.
A few places away, Mina sat behind Seoah, carefully holding the little girl around her waist since she was still too young to ride by herself.
"Hold on tightly,"
Mina said.
Seoah giggled.
The ride slowly began moving.
Mina smiled.
"See? We're having fun."
But Seoah suddenly looked toward something behind Mina.
Her little face crumpled.
"Ah....."
Her lower lip trembled.
Then she started crying.
Mina immediately panicked.
"Oh!"
She quickly hugged Seoah closer.
"No, no, no."
She gently rocked her.
"I didn't mean it!"
Seoah continued crying.
Mina looked around helplessly.
"Come on, Seoah."
She made a small funny face.
"Look at the horses!"
Seoah's crying slowly became quieter.
Mina sighed in relief.
"That's better."
She kissed the top of Seoah's head.
"Let's enjoy our ride."
A short distance away, Lihan and Bora stood outside the ride.
Lihan had just returned with two ice creams.
He handed one to Bora.
"Here."
Bora looked at it.
Then she smiled softly.
"Thank you."
Lihan leaned slightly closer and murmured something into her ear.
Bora's cheeks immediately turned pink.
She gave him a light tap on the shoulder.
"Stop."
Lihan chuckled.
Bora looked toward the children again.
"Not here."
Lihan raised both hands innocently.
"Okay, okay."
But his smile remained.
A few steps away, Mina noticed the exchange.
She slowly rolled her eyes.
"Why am I the only single beauty here?"
She looked at Lihan and Bora.
Then at the couples walking around the amusement park.
Then at herself.
"Ahhhhh....."
She dramatically sighed.
"Unfair."
Lihan glanced toward Mina.
He lowered his voice.
"Mina is with the children."
Bora immediately understood what he meant.
She gave him a sharp look.
"Don't."
Lihan blinked innocently.
"Don't what?"
"You know exactly what."
Bora crossed her arms.
"Not now."
Lihan looked toward the children.
Then back at Bora.
"Oh."
He nodded.
"Okay."
He paused.
"Next time I'll take a day off."
Bora's eyes widened slightly.
"And?"
Lihan smiled.
"We'll go on a date."
Bora's cheeks turned pink.
She immediately hit his shoulder again.
"Ya!"
Lihan grabbed his arm dramatically.
"Ah!"
He looked at her in disbelief.
"Living in this residence has turned you into security or what?"
He rubbed his arm.
"Damn, your hand is strong as stoneman."
Bora glared at him.
"Yaaa!"
Lihan immediately straightened.
"Sorry."
He raised both hands.
"Sorry, sorry."
Bora tried not to smile.
But the corner of her lips lifted anyway.
Lihan noticed.
His own smile returned.
"See?"
Bora immediately looked away.
"Shut up."
Behind them, the children's laughter continued.
And somewhere else in the amusement park, Taekyun and Haneul were enjoying their own quiet time together.
For one day, there were no painful memories.
No unanswered questions.
No fear of tomorrow.
Just laughter.
Family.
And a little bit of chaos.
[Amusement Park —Later]
A little farther away from the children, Jina and Nayeon walked together through the colorful paths of the amusement park.
Jina suddenly stopped at a small souvenir stall.
A few minutes later, she returned with two tiny animal-patterned rings.
One had a little wolf design.
The other had a small bunny.
Jina immediately took Nayeon's hand.
"Give me your hand."
Nayeon raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Just give it."
Nayeon sighed and held out her hand.
Jina slipped the wolf ring onto her finger.
Then she placed the bunny ring on her own.
She held their hands together and looked at the rings.
"Ohhh....."
Her eyes sparkled.
"So cute."
Nayeon looked at the rings.
Then at Jina.
She gave a small scoff.
"Huh."
Jina's smile disappeared.
She slowly turned toward her.
"You're laughing at me."
Nayeon immediately shook her head.
"No."
"You did just now."
"I didn't."
"You did."
Jina pointed accusingly at her.
"I'll teach you a lesson, you old woman."
Nayeon's eyes widened.
"Old woman?"
She placed a hand against her chest dramatically.
"I'm only near 34!"
Jina stared at her.
"That's still old."
Nayeon narrowed her eyes.
"And you're saying that to me?"
Jina smiled proudly.
"I'm only 27 okay...."
Nayeon stared at her for a second.
Then she burst out laughing.
"Okay, okay."
She gently pulled Jina closer.
"I'm sorry."
She looked down at their matching rings.
"My girl is cuter than the whole world."
Her expression softened.
"She's the only one I have eyes for."
Jina's cheeks immediately warmed.
"You....."
She tried to hide her smile.
"Stop saying things like that."
"But you like hearing them."
Jina looked away.
"I don't."
Nayeon smiled.
"Sure."
They continued walking together, looking at the different rides and stalls.
After a few moments, Nayeon's expression became thoughtful.
"Jina."
"Hmm?"
"I'm thinking about something."
Jina looked toward her.
"And I believe you'll understand."
She smiled softly.
"You order, my dear husband-nim. I'll follow."
Nayeon chuckled.
"Yeah."
She squeezed Jina's hand.
"Of course."
Her smile slowly faded into something more serious.
"I talked with Taekyun a few days ago."
Jina looked at her curiously.
"About what?"
Nayeon took a breath.
"He's planning to marry Haneul at the end of this month."
Jina stopped walking.
Her eyes widened.
"Marry?"
Then her face immediately lit up.
"Oppa is getting married?!"
She nearly jumped in excitement.
Several people nearby glanced in their direction.
Nayeon immediately caught her arm and pulled her closer.
"Shhh!"
Jina covered her mouth.
"Sorry, sorry."
She lowered her voice.
"Yes, I'm listening."
Nayeon smiled.
"Now that Haneul has returned, Taekyun finally has his family back."
She looked toward the distant rides where the children were playing.
"They're going to build their own family again."
Her expression softened.
"Taekyun is my only family now."
She paused.
"I want him to live a good life."
"He has already faced enough."
Jina's smile slowly disappeared.
She nodded.
"So.... you're deciding....."
Nayeon nodded.
"I talked with Taekyun."
She gently squeezed Jina's hand.
"We bought a house in Seoul."
Jina's eyes widened slightly.
"A house?"
"Yes."
Nayeon smiled.
"It's a little far from Taekyun's residence."
"But it's perfect for us."
She looked at Jina.
"A place where we can grow old together."
Jina's eyes softened.
She stepped closer.
Nayeon immediately wrapped an arm around her.
Jina rested her head lightly against her shoulder.
"I'm ready."
Her voice was quiet but certain.
"Let's build our own little life again."
She smiled.
"And let Oppa live happily with his family."
Nayeon nodded.
"That's exactly what I want."
She looked down at Jina affectionately.
"My good girl."
Her smile became warmer.
"You've always been my best support."
Jina smiled.
"We moved into Oppa's residence because he was going through such a difficult time."
She looked toward the children.
"But now...."
"His world has finally returned."
Nayeon nodded.
"And he deserves privacy."
Jina squeezed her hand.
"Then we'll give it to him."
"Yes."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Nayeon's expression suddenly changed.
A mischievous smile appeared.
"Now...."
She tugged Jina toward the rides.
"Let's enjoy ourselves."
Jina blinked.
"Why?"
"Because after tonight...."
Nayeon paused dramatically.
"You might not be riding these things for quite a while."
"Around 9months."
Jina's eyes widened.
"Shut up!"
She immediately covered Nayeon's mouth.
"Seoah is still so little!"
Nayeon laughed against her hand.
When Jina finally released her, Nayeon grinned.
"I can handle ten children at once."
Jina stared at her.
"You're unbelievable."
Nayeon simply laughed and pulled her toward the next ride.
"Come on."
Jina followed, shaking her head.
But the smile on her face never disappeared.
Meanwhile,
Taekyun continued walking beside Haneul, their hands intertwined.
The amusement park was enormous.
There were colorful rides everywhere, small food stalls, animal attractions, games, and countless families moving around them.
Haneul looked around with quiet curiosity.
Taekyun occasionally pointed toward different attractions.
Haneul smiled softly.
Then, after a moment, he looked down at Haneul.
"Do you remember?"
Haneul turned toward him.
"You once asked me to bring you and Haru here."
His voice softened.
"Haru was very little then."
He smiled faintly.
"She kept asking you to take her to an amusement park."
Haneul's expression slowly changed.
A small smile appeared.
"Ummm....."
Then he suddenly looked at Taekyun with a slightly dramatic expression.
"But I still remember something...."
Taekyun raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You didn't like amusement parks."
Taekyun's lips curved upward.
Haneul continued.
"Especially when it came to sending Haru somewhere."
He gave him a teasing look.
"You were always against it."
Taekyun chuckled softly.
"I was at that time."
Taekyun looked ahead for a moment.
"I was..... scared."
He paused.
"And maybe I was a fool back then."
Haneul immediately shook his head.
"You're not."
Taekyun looked at him.
"You just wanted the best for us."
Taekyun smiled softly.
"At that time...."
His expression became slightly distant.
"I just wanted to keep some distance because of....."
He stopped.
Haneul looked up at him.
"Because of what?"
Taekyun's eyes flickered.
"Because you found out about your brother...."
He stopped himself.
Haneul blinked.
"My brother?"
For a second, confusion crossed his face.
Taekyun immediately realized his mistake.
His expression softened.
"Nothing."
He gently squeezed Haneul's hand.
"I misspoke."
Haneul continued looking at him.
"But..."
Taekyun quickly pointed toward another attraction.
"Look."
Haneul followed his gaze.
There was a small animal area ahead.
"Taeha likes animals."
Haneul's attention immediately shifted.
"He does?"
Taekyun nodded.
"Very much."
Haneul smiled.
"Then let's go."
Taekyun smiled back.
"Come."
He gently guided Haneul forward.
Haneul followed, becoming absorbed in the colorful little world around them.
He didn't notice the brief sadness that crossed Taekyun's eyes.
Nor did he notice how carefully Taekyun watched him.
The medicine was already doing its work.
Memories were fading.
Not enough to hurt.
Just enough to leave small gaps.
And Taekyun silently promised himself that if Haneul forgot pieces of the past related Eunoia.
He would fill those empty spaces with new memories.
[Eunoia — The Other World]
The main passage between the two worlds slowly closed behind Doyeon.
He stepped back into Eunoia.
For forty days, he had watched Haneul from afar.
He had followed the instructions given to him.
He had made sure Haneul was safe.
He had never revealed the truth.
He had never told anyone what he had done.
But the moment Doyeon stepped completely into his own world.
Several officers were already waiting.
Doyeon stopped.
He looked at them quietly.
One officer stepped forward.
"Doyeon."
Doyeon gave a small smile.
"I know."
He didn't resist.
He already knew they had discovered everything.
They knew he had broken the rules.
They knew he had helped Haneul.
They knew he had protected him instead of following the order exactly as commanded.
Doyeon lowered his gaze.
He had expected this.
The court's decision came quickly.
"Officer Doyeon."
The official voice echoed through the chamber.
"For violating the laws governing passage between worlds and interfering with a protected subject, you are sentenced to lifetime confinement in the punishment room."
Silence followed.
Doyeon remained completely still.
He was still young.
Far too young for a sentence like this.
Yet he didn't argue.
He didn't plead.
He simply bowed.
"I accept."
The officer looked at him.
"You understand the sentence?"
Doyeon nodded.
"Yes."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
The officers stepped forward.
Doyeon turned once toward the distant passageway.
For a moment, he thought about Haneul.
Then he smiled.
At least he was safe.
That was enough.
Doyeon lowered his head and followed the officers.
His footsteps slowly disappeared down the corridor.
And the door to the punishment room closed behind him.
He had lost his freedom.
But he didn't regret the choice that had led him there.