Ho-Seok was half-lying on the bed, one leg stretched out, the other slightly bent—
He was keeping an eye on the real-time share market prices and almost all the shares in Korea… he was selling quite a lot of shares.
Meanwhile—
Nora sat beside him with a small bowl of fruits.
Carefully peeling an apple.
Her movements were slow… thoughtful.
"…Does it hurt?" she asked softly, glancing at his back.
Ho-Seok immediately sighed.
Deep. Dramatic.
"…Physically? Yes."
A pause.
"…Emotionally? Even more."
Nora gently picked up a slice of apple.
Without warning—
She leaned forward and placed it into Ho-Seok's mouth.
"…It's okay," she said softly. "I'm here, aren't I? I'll take care of you… with all my heart."
Ho-Seok froze.
The slice—
Went straight down his throat.
Wrong way.
He choked.
"—Khk—!"
Nora's eyes widened instantly.
She jumped up.
"Are you okay?!"
Grabbing a glass of water, she quickly held it out to him.
Ho-Seok coughed, waving his hand frantically.
"I'm—khk—I'm okay! I'm okay!"
He gulped the water down, forcing himself to breathe normally again.
Then, trying to regain dignity—
"There's really no need for you to worry so much," he said, straightening slightly.
"Hyung told me to take care of you… so if you need anything, just message me."
He quickly reached for his phone—
Trying to look busy.
Trying to escape.
But—
"No, no," Nora shook her head immediately. "You're not okay."
He froze.
"…I'm not?"
"Your voice," she said seriously. "Your throat must be hurting. I should make you some warm tea."
Ho-Seok's eyes widened.
"N-No. Absolutely not."
Nora tilted her head.
"…Hmm?"
"…Do you want something else to eat?" she asked instead.
"…No," he replied quickly. "I've already eaten. My stomach is… completely full."
A pause.
"…I think I should go to the washroom."
(Run. Just run. Before this turns from injury… to death.)
He tried to stand.
But the moment he did—
Nora was right beside him.
Supporting him.
Ho-Seok stiffened.
"There's no need," he said quickly. "I can go myself."
Nora frowned.
"Your back and legs were injured because of me. Let me take care of you."
She tried to guide him forward.
He resisted.
Internally panicking.
Outwardly calm.
For three seconds.
Then—
He suddenly sat back down.
"…I don't need to go."
Nora blinked.
"…You don't?"
"…No," he said firmly. "…I want to sleep."
"Then lie down properly," she said immediately.
Before he could react—
She started fixing his bed.
Straightening the sheets.
Adjusting the pillow.
Ho-Seok lay down obediently.
Closed his eyes.
Pretending.
Just leave. Please leave.
But—
She didn't.
She sat down right beside him.
Silence.
Heavy.
Suspicious.
His eyes snapped open.
He sat up straight.
"You can ask me for anything you need," he said quickly.
"Really. I'll get it for you. Just… please leave me alone."
Nora smiled.
Soft.
But curious.
"Oh? Is that so?"
A pause.
Then—
"Then tell me… why doesn't Duri like No Gul?"
Ho-Seok blinked.
"…That's it?"
"…That's your question?"
Nora nodded innocently.
"…Hmm."
He relaxed slightly.
"Oh, that's easy."
He leaned back a little, confident again.
"Duri actually likes hyung the most."
Nora frowned.
"…Really?"
"Of course," he said. "Since the day she came, she's been his lucky charm."
He lifted a finger, explaining dramatically—
"Every meeting, every deal—everything goes smoothly. Like… 5G speed."
Nora slowly leaned back.
Giving him a look.
Unimpressed.
"…Really?"
"Really!" he insisted. "If Duri says 'meow' before anything important—it's guaranteed success."
Nora stared.
Blank.
Unbelieving.
Ho-Seok nodded seriously.
"I'm telling you, without her, hyung wouldn't have even regained his consci—"
He stopped.
Mid-sentence.
His brain caught up.
…What did I just say?
Silence.
Nora's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Regained what?"
A pause.
Danger.
Ho-Seok smiled.
Too quickly.
"…Health."
"…Hmm?"
"…He was sick," Ho-Seok corrected immediately. "Very sick."
Nora leaned forward slightly.
"…No Gul was sick?"
"Y-Yes," he nodded. "Very serious condition."
Ho-Seok swallowed.
"…Heart problem."
"…Heart?"
"…Yes," he nodded. "Love sickness."
Silence.
"…Love sickness?" Nora repeated slowly.
"Exactly," he pointed at her. "Ever since he saw my—"
He paused.
Brain scrambling.
"…My… kkum-ui hyung-su." ("…Dream sister-in-law.")
She froze.
"…Me?"
"Yes," he nodded. "He saw you once and—finished."
"…Finished?"
"Completely gone," he added. "No awareness. No control. Just… love."
Nora stared at him.
Processing.
Slowly.
"…And then?"
"Then," Ho-Seok continued smoothly, "with Duri's lucky 'meow'…"
He gestured dramatically—
"…he managed to marry you."
Nora's eyes widened slightly.
She looked at Duri—
Who was now lazily licking her paw.
"…Does she also have… magical powers?" Nora asked softly.
Ho-Seok immediately leaned forward—
Finger to his lips.
"Shhh."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…If someone hears, it becomes dangerous."
Nora's eyes widened.
She nodded seriously.
"…Hmm."
Then—
She copied him.
Placed her finger on her lips.
"…Secret."
Ho-Seok nodded.
Equally serious.
"…Secret."
And just like that—
She believed him.
Completely.
Ho-Seok leaned back slowly.
Relieved.
Barely surviving.
…I need hyung to come back. Fast. 😭
Midnight.
The apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
The door clicked open softly.
No Gul stepped inside.
His movements were silent, controlled—
But the moment his eyes lifted—
He stopped.
Nora.
She was on the sofa.
Curled slightly to one side, asleep.
As if she had been waiting…
And lost the battle halfway.
Something in his expression shifted.
Just a little.
He walked closer.
His fingers lifted—ready to use magic…
But then—
He crouched in front of her.
Gently slipping off her slippers.
Adjusting her position so she wouldn't strain her neck.
Then—
He pulled a blanket over her.
Tucking it lightly around her shoulders.
His hand paused for a second.
Near her face.
But he withdrew it.
The door opened.
And instantly—
"HYUNG—!" "HYUNGG—!"
Ho-Seok rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
"You're back! Don't leave me alone with her again—never!"
"Get off."
"Hyung, I almost died today! She doesn't need protection—people need protection from her!"
"Stop sticking to me."
"Lower your voice."
✦ Study Room ✦
"I've set everything," Ho-Seok said.
"Within the next 72 hours… Velvet won't know what hit them."
"Chaos is coming."
"But… why wait 72 hours?"
"What about what I asked you to do?"
"…You should get her to sign it yourself."
"…Also—she was asking about you today."
"She wants to know everything."
A sound.
Khht.
"Shh."
✦ Hallway ✦
Nora.
Walking slowly.
Unsteady.
"…Sleepwalking again."
In a swift motion he comes near and lifted her into his arms.
Effortless.
But then—
Her eyes opened.
Awake.
Looking straight at him.
Studying him.
And then—
"Yeobo!"
— To Be Continued —