# Chapter 102
“So Hyung is saying we should postpone the Crop Five performance that was scheduled for Grandfather’s birthday, and assign separate bodyguards for Sijin. He told me to talk to Sijin first, so I talked with Sijin and then came here. Sijin said Mother should know too.”
“Yes. You did well to come.”
Mom listened with a serious face when I also told her about the people I’d seen while with Grandfather.
“It seems Sijin wants to meet Grandfather in person.”
“It probably won’t help much. I think it would be better if I went to see him instead.”
If Mom stepped in, it would certainly be effective, and I even thought I should have asked Mom earlier.
“Sijin. This isn’t something to take lightly. From now on, you could really be in danger too.”
When Mom said this directly, Sijin looked at me as if it struck him differently.
“But don’t worry too much. I’ll do something about it. Seomin, are you certain about your feelings?”
“Yes. I clearly told Grandfather too. I’m not interested in Seyoung. I like my work at Grand Tamer and want to continue doing what I’ve been doing. I wasn’t sure before, but now I’m confident. I want to live happily with Sijin by my side.”
“Good. If that’s what you want, that’s how it should be. That’s how you should live. Sijin feels the same, right?”
Sijin answered immediately, as if it wasn’t even a question.
“Yes, Mother.”
Since Mom knew that Sijin had been willing to quit Crop Five for the sake of our time together, she probably believed that Sijin would stay by my side even if it meant giving up everything else.
“Will you stay here for now? I need to go see Grandfather.”
Since it wasn’t far in terms of distance, getting there wasn’t a problem if she wanted to go.
The issue was whether Grandfather would meet her, but Mom easily obtained permission.
Just seeing that reinforced my thought that the concern wasn’t Grandfather but the people around him.
“Mom. Wouldn’t it be better if I went with you?”
But Mom shook her head with a bright smile.
“Those people won’t do anything reckless either. They won’t go against Grandfather’s wishes.”
But I had an ominous feeling and finally grabbed Mom.
“I think Grandfather should come here instead. Then those people won’t be there. I think it would be better to talk somewhere without those people, Mom. I know you’re doing this for me, but I can’t let you be in danger. The most important thing you can do for me is to stay safe and healthy.”
“Mother. I think Hyung is right. We should ask the Chairman to come here. Otherwise, I’ll go with you. I’m uneasy about you going alone.”
Mom was about to say it was fine but then made a pleased expression.
“I’ve gained two sons. Yes. Thank you for worrying. If you both insist, I don’t need to be stubborn. Alright. Let’s do that.”
Mom called right then, and the call wasn’t long.
Grandfather seemed to agree to her request to come, and Mom tidied up the house.
It was already spotless, but she seemed to be thinking about what to say while cleaning.
“Can we stay with you too, Mother?”
As the time approached, Sijin asked, and Mom seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.
Mom seemed to think it wasn’t necessary, but Sijin appeared worried about letting Mom meet Grandfather alone.
In the end, Mom decided to go along with Sijin’s wishes, and we all greeted Grandfather together.
Grandfather looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected to see Sijin there, but he quickly changed his expression as he entered.
“It’s been a while since I’ve greeted you, Father.”
“Yes. You look well.”
Grandfather looked at me reproachfully.
He seemed displeased, as if asking if I had rushed over here and told them everything in the meantime, but I had no choice.
I had no intention of just watching while Grandfather tried to manipulate something important to me as if it had no value.
“Father. There’s no need to look at Seomin that way. And I’d like to ask you first what would have happened if Seomin hadn’t told me about it. Seomin is my child. It’s not pleasant that you’re now acting like a grandfather. If you appeared late, just help Seomin. Don’t be greedy for Seomin.”
Mom was unrestrained.
Since I hadn’t thought she would go that far, for a very brief moment, Grandfather even looked pitiful.
Grandfather couldn’t properly respond to Mom’s words.
“I don’t know with what intention you said such things to Seomin, but Seomin feels threatened for his life. You can’t say that Seomin’s actions are excessive. Seomin already lost his father that way and has been kidnapped before. It doesn’t make sense to say you didn’t know he would think that way.”
“I…”
Grandfather seemed genuinely surprised by those words.
He looked at me as if asking if I really thought that way.
“I’ve decided to cancel all the performances for Grandfather’s birthday celebration. I judged that Grandfather might harm Crop Five. Even if Grandfather doesn’t give the orders, I thought people who try to anticipate and act on Grandfather’s true intentions might do so.”
“That… No. That makes no sense.”
Then Mom shook her head.
“No matter how I think about it, there’s no answer except those people, Father. They might have thought they were acting for your sake and for Seyoung’s sake. They would have ruled Seyoung from above you while claiming to serve you closely. Didn’t you know that? Did you want to think that you were reigning over such strong and terrifying people because you knew how powerful and frightening they are?”
“Watch your words. I’ve been tolerant of you for a long time, but don’t think I’ll be patient forever.”
“Well said. I’d like to say the same thing to you, Father. Don’t think I’ll be patient forever either. I haven’t forgotten his death yet. I thought I couldn’t bring it to light, but it seems that’s not necessarily the case.”
Anger shadowed Grandfather’s face.
“What are you saying now?!”
“There are puzzles that can’t be solved without the right timing. And now that time has come. If I hadn’t heard about it from Sijin, I still wouldn’t know where to fit that piece. But now I do. However, it would be better not to do anything rash. I’ve entrusted what I found at the scene to a trustworthy journalist and asked them to take it to the police station along with the suicide note I provided if something happens to me. I’ve also asked them to cover it as a news article. You wouldn’t want Seyoung’s true face to be exposed either.”
“I asked what you’re talking about!”
“No. You know, Father. You also know who I need to convey this message to. I have no desire now to reveal the truth about his death. Seomin’s happiness is more important to me. And I’m not confident that you can stop those people either. I’m telling you this because you seem to be just a straw man that those people can easily manipulate.”
Grandfather glared at Mother as if dumbfounded.
Continuing to glare like that without properly counterattacking, Grandfather left.
While Grandfather was leaving, unable to even think about going with him, I approached Mom.
“Mom.”
I couldn’t say anything else.
I just felt so sorry.
So I hugged Mom and patted her back.
From that moment, tears flowed endlessly at the thought that Mom had been fighting a solitary battle all this time without me knowing.
Mom, who struggled alone, trying to figure out how to protect me.
I must have been too young, and it must have seemed difficult for Mom to protect me.
Yet, without giving up, she diligently flapped her wings and built a nest around me.
I finally realized that she had tried to hide me from the reach of dangerous people.
“Mom…”
Mom hugged me back.
“It’s okay, Seomin. Don’t worry. Mom can do this for you. No one can force you to do something you don’t want to do. I won’t let that happen. Do you trust Mom, Seomin?”
“Mom…”
I held Mom tightly and buried my face in her slender shoulders.
I regretted the moments when I thought Mom’s mind was strange without knowing all this, and I was angry at myself.
“You just do what you want to do. That’s what Mom is here for. I’ll make that happen. So don’t worry about anything, Seomin.”
When I raised my eyes, which kept filling with tears, Sijin was looking at me from there.
Having approached without me noticing, he stroked my back.
It was a time when we could all feel that our hearts were one.
