Chapter 6 part 1
Yeonho had almost called the whole shopping trip off entirely.
He was already dealing with enough, yet here he was, followed by a whole entourage of bodyguards and servants, just to go out.
He hadn't wanted to draw this much attention, but Jiseok had been insistent, still paranoid, still making sure his little mistress wouldn't run off anywhere.
Inside the back of the sleek luxury car, Yeonho rested his chin on one hand, gazing out the window with a small, annoyed pout. Behind them, a separate van trailed closely, carrying all the staff assigned to him.
"Tsk. It's just shopping, not like I'm planning a prison break," he muttered under his breath.
He turned his head slightly to look at the woman sitting opposite him. She was Freya, the head servant, one of the most trusted and senior staff in Jiseok's household.
She met his gaze calmly, her expression steady and respectful.
"We are only following Master's orders, Mistress," Freya replied.
"Besides, we are heading to one of the busiest, most crowded malls in the city. Our priority is to ensure nothing disturbs you, and that you remain safe and undisturbed throughout your trip."
"Still… isn't this all a bit much?"
Yeonho huffed, shifting in his seat.
"I'm not the country's president or royalty. Why do I need an army of people just to pick out some clothes? It's so annoying."
He knew from the novel that Han Jiseok was possessive by nature, but experiencing it firsthand like this was far more suffocating and irritating than he had ever imagined.
"Mistress, you may not remember clearly, but we are in Russia,"
Freya reminded him softly.
"For Master to arrange this level of security and service means he considers this trip very important indeed."
Yeonho raised an eyebrow, looking back out at the passing cityscape.
"Come on. It's just shopping."
"Not quite,"
Freya shook her head slightly.
"We are going to one of the largest, most exclusive and luxurious malls in the whole country, Mistress. Ordinary people may walk past it, but very few can actually afford to shop there. You should also know that the people who frequent that place are far from ordinary, too—politicians, celebrities, business magnates, even high-ranking officials visit regularly. It is a place reserved only for the wealthy and powerful."
Yeonho fell silent for a moment, turning her words over in his mind.
It certainly sounded like something out of a movie, but he was still struggling to see why he needed this many people with him.
"Even so… I still don't see why I have to drag half the household along with me."
Freya hesitated for a split second, then cleared her throat and continued.
"Master is a top-tier VIP member of the establishment. Bringing security and personal staff is standard practice for people of his standing—especially since you mentioned you intend to buy a great many things today. There is also… another reason."
She paused again, looking unsure whether she should speak further. Yeonho tilted his head, waiting, and she went on.
"This arrangement is also meant to display the status and power Master holds. Everyone who visits that mall will have their own staff and security, and they will recognise what this means. And… you have been there many times before, Mistress. Most of the store owners and staff will recognise you instantly, too."
Yeonho blinked, finally putting the pieces together.
"So let me get this straight. All these people are here for three reasons, to keep me safe, to help me carry whatever I buy, and to show off just how much authority and wealth Han Jiseok has? Because I'm his mistress, and everyone already knows who I am anyway?"
"Precisely, Mistress."
It still felt over the top, but Yeonho decided he would let it slide for now.
After all, it wasn't like he had any illusions about his position—he was Han Jiseok's favoured mistress, the plaything of one of the richest and most influential men around.
This was exactly the kind of treatment he could expect.
'I guess I can accept that. Not that I'm particularly impressed… well, maybe a little bit. Whatever.'
Han Jiseok hadn't been described in much detail in the original novel, so all of this was new to him, but at the same time, he couldn't say he was surprised.
It fit perfectly with the man's character.
Fifteen minutes later, the car finally slowed to a halt. Yeonho looked out, and he couldn't deny that Freya hadn't been exaggerating.
The building in front of them was massive—modern, grand, and undeniably expensive-looking, its facade made of polished glass and shining stone that caught the sunlight perfectly.
As he glanced around, he saw crowds of people moving towards the entrance.
Just as Freya had said, most of them didn't look like ordinary citizens.
Everywhere he looked, he saw men and women dressed in high-end designer clothes, walking with an air of effortless elegance, many accompanied by their own bodyguards, assistants or servants.
'So it really is true. That old man… he really doesn't want to risk me running away, and on top of that, he wants everyone to see exactly who I belong to. All these people just to watch over me and show me off.'
"Aren't we getting out, Mistress?" Freya asked gently, breaking his train of thought.
"Oh—right. Let's go."
Before stepping out, Yeonho took a moment to check his reflection in the car window.
He was dressed simply but perfectly.
A crisp white turtleneck that suited his pale complexion beautifully, paired with form-fitting black leather pants.
His long, silky blonde hair was styled neatly, swept over one shoulder to frame his face, and his skin looked smooth and flawless, so pale and delicate he really did look more like a finely crafted doll than a real human being.
He tilted his head slightly, admiring his own reflection for a second.
"How do I look?"
"Absolutely perfect," Freya replied immediately, her tone sincere.
"You are as breathtakingly beautiful as always, Mistress. You are the very definition of elegance."
Yeonho rolled his eyes, though a small, pleased smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Oh please, spare me the flattery. I already know I look good."
Still, he couldn't say he minded the compliment.
He knew exactly what he looked like, and he knew exactly the kind of effect he had on people.
"By the way… what was your name again?" he asked suddenly.
Freya's eyes widened a little, and she bowed her head respectfully, clearly touched that he had bothered to ask.
"It is Freya, Mistress. Just Freya."
"Alright, Freya. Here's what we're going to do,"
Yeonho said, his tone shifting to something sharp and determined, his blue eyes showing with purpose.
"You will lead me through this entire mall. I want to visit every single high-end clothing store, every jewellery boutique, every accessory shop—literally everywhere worth going to. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly, Mistress. I will do everything I can to assist you," Freya replied firmly.
"Good. Let's get started then."
The driver, who had been waiting quietly by the door, tapped his earpiece to signal the rest of the team before stepping out to open Yeonho's door.
At the same time, the van behind them opened, and a stream of neatly uniformed bodyguards and female servants stepped out.
Yeonho noticed with amusement that all the staff were dressed in smart, professional attire—nothing like the frilly, obvious maid uniforms people usually imagined.
'Of course. No one in their right mind would walk around a place like this wearing something like that.'
One of the bodyguards stepped forward to hold the car door open fully.
The moment Yeonho stepped out into the bright sunlight, he felt it, every pair of eyes in the immediate area turned straight towards him.
People snuck glances when they thought he wouldn't notice, while others stared openly, unable to look away.
'Normies. Please… like I don't already know how I look. Honestly, they're acting like they've never seen a pretty face before.'
Yeonho let a small, confident smile play on his lips.
He had never particularly liked being the centre of attention right now, yet at the same time, he couldn't help but enjoy it.
It reminded him of his old life, back in his original world, where people had fought just to get a minute of his time, where everyone knew who he was and everyone wanted to be close to him.
But here… things were different. He was famous, yes, but for all the wrong reasons.
The thought of his old life, and everything he had lost or rather, everything that had been taken from the original Yeonho, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
'This stupid novel, tsk.'
He clicked his tongue sharply, his expression darkening just a little.
Freya noticed the change immediately.
"Is something wrong, Mistress?"
Yeonho shook his head, brushing the thought away.
"Nothing. Just remembered something unpleasant. Come on—lead the way. I'm dying to put that black card of mine to good use already."
They walked towards the towering glass entrance doors, and the moment they stepped inside, Yeonho found himself stopping short, stunned by what he saw.
The interior was nothing short of breathtaking—seven whole floors, designed with pristine marble, gleaming metal and crystal, wide open spaces and grand staircases that made the whole place look less like a shopping centre and more like a modern royal palace.
'This can't be real… it's just a mall, but it feels like I've walked straight into some kind of dream.'
"This way, please, Mistress," Freya said, stepping slightly ahead of him to lead the way.
Yeonho followed, his eyes darting everywhere as he took it all in.
His entourage walked behind him in perfect formation—servants close by, bodyguards fanning out subtly to clear a path.
Even among all the wealthy, elegant people walking around, Yeonho stood out instantly.
With his perfect face, striking hair and ethereal beauty, it was almost impossible to look at anything else when he was nearby.
Everywhere he walked, heads turned, and whispers followed in his wake.