I comforted myself that it was okay since I hadn’t been caught. I didn’t know how long this situation would last, but it definitely wouldn’t last long. It would end as soon as I withdrew or Rashanin returned to Russia.
Thinking about the end made me a bit agitated. But that was all. Don’t they say you need to be cool in relationships like this?
As I hypnotized myself like that and lifted my coffee cup, I noticed a blonde beauty and a black-haired handsome man entering the coffee shop together. I recognized the beauty wearing a black mini dress with her hair pinned up at a glance. It was Elisabeth.
Before I could think to look away, our eyes met. Recognizing me, Elisabeth smiled brightly and approached this way. Since I was sitting in a corner, I could see at a glance all the gazes of the people in the cafe turning toward Elisabeth.
Thanks to Rashanin, it was a scene I saw every day, but the amazement didn’t fade each time I witnessed it. I even thought the term “self-luminous” might exist just for them. I smiled bitterly and slowly rose from my seat.
“Unhyuk-ssi. Have you been well?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I’ve been well. Have you been well, Elisabeth-ssi?”
“Of course.”
Like Rashanin, she too was a dangerous person classified as special grade. Seeing that there had been no notification that she was coming to Jeju Island, she must have moved in secret.
Whether she knew of my surprise or not, Elisabeth naturally settled into the chair across from where I was sitting as if it were obvious.
“But you’re alone? I don’t see the Duke.”
“Rashanin-ssi is probably swimming right now.”
“He does like swimming. But why didn’t you accompany him?”
“I don’t like swimming.”
Rather than not liking swimming, my body wasn’t in a condition to swim. The blotches made it look exactly like a skin disease. Though it was a private pool where I didn’t need to worry about people’s eyes, I still didn’t want to swim with a body like that. Also, watching Rashanin’s bare body, which showed no trace no matter how much I bit him, was something that twisted my mood in various ways.
“Is that so. Hmm.”
Elisabeth’s cold blue eyes slowly examined me as she nodded in understanding. I didn’t feel scared of her or want to flee the scene in terror, but I couldn’t help being a bit nervous under her gaze filled with uncommon force.
“Is the Duke being mean? You’ve lost weight since I last saw you.”
“No. I’m fine.”
As I touched my cheek at the point about losing weight, Elisabeth indicated my wrist with her eyes.
“That watch, did you receive it from the Duke?”
“Yes.”
I answered, trying not to feel apologetic.
“Don’t you like what I gave you?”
“It’s too extravagant a gift. I’d like to return it.”
“That’s discrimination. The Duke’s is definitely expensive too.”
“A nearby lion is more frightening than a distant tiger.”
Rather than Elisabeth, whose face I couldn’t even see, the Rashanin right next to me who bothered people saying it wasn’t polite to ignore his sincerity was more annoying. When I told her the truth, Elisabeth burst into clear laughter. I wondered if this was funny.
“You know you’re really amusing, right?”
“I’m just telling you the truth.”
“But I’m here now too, aren’t I?”
“Rashanin-ssi said that if Elisabeth-ssi returns the watch, he’ll do the same. I’ll return it.”
“Oh. Unhyuk, that only benefits you. I’ve said it several times, but you don’t return gifts. That’s yours now, so throw it away or keep it, do as you please. Got it?”
“Understood.”
It seemed I couldn’t win against Elisabeth on this matter alone.
“But there’s one thing I’m curious about. Did you sleep with him?”
“……!!”
I froze for a moment when she suddenly asked if I’d slept with him while talking about the watch. What did I just hear? I looked at Elisabeth with eyes as calm as possible, hiding my fluster. She was convinced, her eyes shining.
“You did sleep together.”
“Elisabeth-ssi?”
My voice calling her was neutral, as if asking what she was talking about. That was truly fortunate.
“You can’t deny it when there’s evidence.”
“……?”
“Here, there’s a kiss mark.”
Elisabeth pointed to her own nape with her right hand. I hastily covered my neck. Though I checked in the mirror every morning just in case, I didn’t know a kiss mark remained.
“Don’t be too surprised. It’s only slightly visible.”
My face flushed hot as she reassured me not to be surprised. Elisabeth smiled enchantingly, as if enjoying my bewilderment.
“The Duke is a gentleman, but he’s famously fierce when it comes to bedroom manners. No wonder you lost weight.”
Not only was the fact I wanted to hide discovered at once, but it was difficult to pretend to be calm at Elisabeth’s behavior of casually discussing intimate private life. That I’d lose weight due to fierce bedroom manners. It wasn’t something to hear from a beautiful young lady gathering everyone’s attention in Jeju’s best hotel coffee shop.
“Oh my. Your face has turned red like a beet. Are you embarrassed?”
“I think it’s not a topic suitable for the time and place.”
“What does it matter? Everyone is listening to our conversation, but it doesn’t matter if they understand. Besides, I’m worried about you. You’ll turn redder when I say this, but I can’t even imagine what the Duke, who abstained for 30 years, must have done.”
Elisabeth smiled prettily, raising the corners of her red-painted lips in a way that suited the word ‘sweetly.’ I realized what her meaningful smile meant, but I couldn’t say it wasn’t that, so I kept feeling awkward.
“You seem weak to this. Your face is getting redder. This makes me want to keep teasing you.”
“Elisabeth-ssi.”
“Come to me.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m making you a scouting offer.”
After teasing people all this time, suddenly a scouting offer. I was bewildered by the continued topic changes. But Elisabeth was serious.
“Right now the Duke is holding on tight and won’t let go, so there’s nothing I can do. But the choice is yours. I promise much better treatment than your current workplace. And by much better treatment here, I don’t mean a few percent raise in annual salary. You know?”
Not only was the implication of an enormous salary surprising, but my heart skipped a beat at the fact that it was premised on separating from Rashanin. I too had acknowledged that it would end soon. However, having it pointed out by someone else’s mouth was different.
“Don’t you like my proposal?”
“I’d have to think about it only after there’s a concrete inquiry. Despite how it looks, this is a lifetime job.”
Though my head was complicated, my mouth spoke words calculating profit and loss. Though it was a special occupation, I was still a civil servant. There’s no better job than this unless you cause trouble. The salary is higher than general civil servants, there’s no delay in monthly pay, and the pension after retirement is substantial.
When I appealed that it was a lifetime job, Elisabeth burst into loud laughter. Just like when I said I hoped to win the lottery.
“I really like you. You’re right that it’s a lifetime job because you’re a civil servant. But I think it won’t be enough to pay off your debts. Even if you take on other agents’ overtime work and do part-time jobs on weekends without rest, you’ll have to live in a room where sunlight barely enters for the next two years. And on top of that, your stepmother’s debts with whom you have a bad relationship. How many years will it take?”
I was quite surprised when Elisabeth mentioned my stepmother and debts. Did she find out even about that?
“Did you… investigate my background?”
“Of course. I need to bring you in as my person, so I should know the basics. As I said earlier, I quite like you.”
I had nothing to say to Elisabeth’s swift action. If I was to become her person, it was right to do basic investigation.
“The annual salary is 340,000 dollars. Bonuses are separate. And I’ll prepare a pretty house in Berlin. A nice car too. If you want, I’ll give you citizenship as well. The work is being my secretary who accompanies me. Manuel complained that he has too much work and needs a long vacation next year no matter what.”
“Princess…”
Manuel, who had been standing expressionlessly beside Elisabeth, made a troubled expression for the first time. But Elisabeth just rolled her eyes slightly.
“It’s true. Don’t you want to go on vacation? Manuel?”
Manuel said nothing and stepped back. He must really want that vacation. Anyway, 340,000 dollars was about 400 million won. With one year’s salary, I could pay off my debts at once and still have money left over. I wavered.
“You said you don’t want immortality, so that’s fine. I don’t want another son either. But since the salary is high, the work is hard. Except for Christmas and Christmas Eve, there are no separate days off. When I work, you have to move too. And vacation is only one week in either summer or winter. Ah, and if you say yes, you have to endure at least 3 years. If you take leave due to accidents, illness, or other reasons, you have to fill in all that time too.”
If it weren’t for the salary of 340,000 dollars, these would be the worst employment conditions. I frowned slightly.
“You thought it was the worst, didn’t you? But except for vacation, welfare like medical care, education, and childcare is the best level, I’m confident, so don’t worry too much. I don’t expect perfection right away, so you can learn slowly. So think it over carefully. You know my phone number, right? Contact me anytime when you’ve made up your mind.”
