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The best territory designer of all time - Episode 206

206fury. A secret to prevent labor exploitation (1)

“Serazade?”

Julien was surprised..

For some reason I can't sleep.

The house I came back to after a long time felt unfamiliar..

On the other hand, I keep thinking about things I'm worried about..

So I just sat quietly on the bench in the hallway..

I like the summer night air flowing from the window across from the bench..

The sound of insects coming from somewhere tickles my ears..

I just like the moist feeling..

I just sat quietly with my eyes closed..

Then I overheard.

Very softly, creaking, the door opens.

I stepped carefully, gently,.

By any chance, will I wake someone up?.

Or will I get caught by someone?.

I came out into the dark hallway and made eye contact with Serazade, who was looking around..

So Julien opened his rabbit-like eyes wide..

“Uh, what's going on??”

I asked without knowing.

Julien thought he was asking a stupid question..

It was because of Serazade’s expressionless face looking back..

“…….”

she didn't answer anything.

I just looked at this direction with emotionless eyes and expression..

Are you angry because of your own stupid question?.

Julien shook his neck slightly and quickly added,.

“Oh, I'm sorry..”

“……What.”

“yes?”

“What are you sorry for?.”

“ah…….”

Serazade still asks with a straight face..

It's good that her silence has lifted.

That kind of question was a bit more difficult..

Are you really angry?.

Why am I angry?.

And what on earth am I sorry about?.

Julien sweated hard to find the answer..

But for some reason, that brilliant mind, which had shown outstanding achievements in academics, could not function smoothly at this moment..

Creak, creak, like an under-oiled wheel.

Julien, who had been shaking his head with some effort, swallowed his saliva and raised his head..

“Just, just..”

“…….”

“I'm sitting here for no reason, um, so I guess I just surprised you..”

“…….”

“I apologize if I was really surprised. sorry.”

“…….”

Serazade was worried..

It's true that I'm surprised, but I'm not angry..

I have nothing to feel sorry for here..

If something comes from the other side like that, how should I respond?.

On the other hand, I also felt embarrassed..

‘I never thought I'd run into this guy here.’

I really didn't know.

Because I was so lost just a moment ago.

Because the emotional drain was so great that I was exhausted..

Despite my Sword Master Syndrome, my attention span was a bit scattered..

So I didn't know.

“Um, um, actually, I can't sleep well. So I was just out here enjoying the night air. I didn't expect Ms. Serazade to come out into the hallway like this... … He didn't know it would surprise him... … Ugh, if I had known this would happen, I would have at least made some noise..”

“I knew it. I'm not surprised.”

“……really?”

“yes.”

Why did I lie so many times?.

But it's such a strange and strange thing..

This rabbit-like man in front of me somehow keeps making me lie..

“But the bag you are carrying is……?”

“lunch box.”

After I said it, I got angry later..

Serazade's face turned red..

This is an answer I gave half-heartedly just to give a rough idea..

After saying it, I thought it was a very strange answer..

‘……I came to be seen as a woman who couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and went out with her lunch box.?’

I hoped not.

But this rabbit-like man in front of me.

I just believe even these ridiculous words..

“Oh, I see..”

……no.

“I guess you were very hungry..”

……no.

“Actually, I was a little hungry too, hehe.”

……I won't give it to you. No, don't believe that..

Julien laughs so innocently and without any measures..

Serazade looked at that with a straight face..

“If I have nothing else to do, I'll just leave..”

I quickly passed in front of Julien..

I tried to do that.

But I couldn't do that..

“Hey, it's not like I don't have anything to do.…….”

“……yes?”

The unexpected words made me stop walking..

Without realizing it, I looked back at Julien..

A man like a rabbit is shouting in this direction..

“If you'd like to take a walk, well, I'd like to take a walk with you.?”

“Of course I refuse…….”

“I won't touch your lunch box..”

“…….”

“Actually, I just wanted to walk. But since I was only reading books, my eyesight was a little dark at night. So, when I walk alone at night, I often trip on a rock..”

“…….”

“So I'll just follow behind you..”

“…….”

Let's just ignore it.

Serazade thought so..

Without responding, I turned and walked down the hallway..

I heard Julien following behind me..

didn't care.

First, I passed the main room, opened the door, and went out into the garden..

I could feel Julien following behind me walking a little faster..

I didn't mind though.

I crossed the garden with strides. I walked away from the annex. stood in front of the wall.

“Hey, wait a minute.…….”

Paat!

I ignored Julien's voice and kicked the ground..

I jumped over the fence in one fell swoop..

“…….”

I can't keep up with you anymore.

Feeling light and empty, Serazade walked away..

But that was then..

“……Ugh!”

scolded!

Julien clumsily fell down the wall he had just climbed over..

“Ugh, let's go together..”

“…….”

“I'm dying from pain.”

“…….”

“I don't plan on asking if you're hurt.?”

“……at all.”

Let's ignore it.

I tried to turn around like that..

But an unexpected question struck my heart..

“still… … It hurts a lot?”

“yes?”

Serazade paused..

The one that just clumsily climbed over the wall and fell down is over there..

But why is that person asking me the wrong question, “Are you still in pain?”.

And why are you looking at me with such worried eyes?.

“You've been like that since before..”

Julien's words are quiet.

It continued carefully..

“Earlier, when I was eating. with my family.”

“…….”

“From then on, he looked very, very sick..”

“…….”

“Well, actually, so… … Here, take this..”

Julien got up with a limp and started struggling..

I took something out of the inside pocket of the vest I wore over my pajamas..

I held it out towards this side..

It was a small vial.

“It's a digestive aid. I think there was too much fatty food at the meal earlier... … That's why he looks like he's feeling uncomfortable... … . Hmm, the effect is pretty good. It tastes very sour and bitter, but, uh, um, so I prepared this too..”

I rummaged through my vest pocket again..

This time, two red candies wrapped in greaseproof paper..

“You should drink the digestive medicine first, then quickly roll it around in your mouth. Then it'll be okay.”

“…….”

Serazade stared blankly..

It wasn't the digestive aid or candy that Julien held out, but his palm..

‘I'm bleeding.’

It was slightly scratched.

It looked like he got hurt when he fell off the wall a little while ago..

It must be quite bitter.

But there was no such sign on that face..

He's still looking up at me with apologetic and worried eyes..

“Do you happen to not like strawberry flavored candies??”

“…….”

“Umm, if not, hehe, I'm sorry. Because I lied earlier. Actually, it's true that I couldn't sleep, and that's why I was pacing around, but um, actually, I'm a little more worried about Ms. Serazade than that.…….”

“…….”

“So, while I was wandering around, I ended up in the annex hallway just in case. I thought I would give you this if I hear you awake in the room. Umm, and again…….”

“I told another lie?”

“……Ah yes.”

Bunny eyes startled.

Julien said with wider eyes..

“You said you just wanted to walk, and you said it was dark at night.…….”

“It was a lie?”

“……yes.”

“Do you want to give this to me??”

“Umm, yes.”

“You're really good at making excuses.?”

“……sorry.”

“are you okay. Because I lied too.”

“yes?”

I startled again.

Seeing those eyes looking up at me, Serazade involuntarily sighed and smiled for the first time this evening..

“I don't have a lunch box.”

“……ah.”

“This bag isn't a lunch box, it's just a travel bag..”

“no way? I'm leaving?”

“yes.”

“…….”

“I won't ask why?”

“Yes, I won't ask..”

Julien tilts his head in response to this question..

I looked up with deeper eyes.

“I felt like if I asked, Ms. Serazade would have to reveal the reason. To do that, Ms. Serazade, you will have to reveal the reason for your suffering..”

“…….”

“I don't want to do that. Here, take this..”

“…….”

Medicine bottle containing fire extinguishing agent.

Oil-blotting paper with candy.

I got it handed to me without realizing it..

Then, suddenly, a thought occurred to me..

“……wait for a sec.”

I unwrapped the greaseproof paper..

I put a candy in my mouth.

I put the other one in Julien's mouth..

And then I grabbed the remaining wax paper. united.

I handed over the items and held Julien’s hand as he was leaving..

I pressed the palm of my hand with a wad of waxed paper..

“……Oh, ouch!”

“Be patient.”

“Ugh, it stings..”

“Really? I didn't even know I was hurt.”

“It's true that I didn't know, but when I pressed it like that, it really stung..”

“Stay still.”

I can't leave like this because I'm worried..

I need to at least stop this person's palms from bleeding..

I think that will make me feel a little more at ease..

That way, there will be less regret..

Serazade pressed Julien's hand even more vigorously with wax paper..

An embarrassed look appeared on Julien's face..

“Um, there, Miss Serazade.?”

“yes.”

“Candy, what if I eat it now?.”

“…….”

“That digestive medicine is really sour and bitter..”

“…….”

Is that what this man is worried about even in this situation?.

Maybe it was because of those thoughts.

Without realizing it, Serazade impulsively blurted out a burning question..

“why are you so worried about me?”

“yes?”

“Why are you so worried about me from now on?.”

I was curious.

I was puzzled.

I really wanted to ask.

Even if I were to leave here now, I felt like I would know that and be relieved..

That's because Julien's attitude was so unusual..

Like a baby bird worrying about its mother bird.

Because I'm constantly following this direction restlessly and worrying..

I thought there must be some special reason..

I decided I had to listen to it..

That's why.

When I heard Julien's answer.

Serazade held his breath for a moment without realizing it..

“Just.”

“…….”

“I'm just, really, just worried..”

“…….”

“So, I was just worried, so I hung around for a little bit, and I just, I brought some fire extinguisher and this, and I just… … Now that I'm leaving, it's a little bit…….”

“It's a shame?”

“……yes.”

“why?”

“That's just it too.”

“…….”

just.

really just.

I just start crying without knowing why.

Serazade bit her lip and gave up..

I've worked so hard and lived so hard until now..

Sometimes I get worries that definitely have a reason..

I just don't understand why you're worried.

For a moment I was puzzled that such a thing existed..

What does such an unfamiliar word mean?.

Why are you unfamiliar with such words?.

As I finally understand why.

Just, the sadness I had been suppressing collapsed and melted my mask..

Just really, without a trace.

“Hey, I…….”

It was probably from then on..

As if possessed, Serazade said.

He just told a story about how he grew up..

I spoke calmly as if I was telling someone else’s story..

Still pressing the wound on Julien's palm.

Just calmly.

Stay dry all the time.

Just listing the facts.

In the meantime, only the corners of my eyes that were oblivious kept getting wet..

Still, Julien occasionally just nodded quietly..

He didn't even ask if he was okay or show that he had a hard time..

Just look into my eyes.

Standing quietly facing each other.

I just heard this side of the story..

The whole night passed like that..

And when the morning finally dawned.

By the time he realized that he had been holding onto Julien all night..

The thought of leaving this place disappeared from Serazade's mind..

There was no particular reason.

I just wanted to be by Julien's side..

♣

‘Ha, look at those. It's a good time.’

It's already a hot summer morning, not to mention warm..

No, this harsh season is so hot that it feels like the innocent heart of a lifelong soloist is being crushed by salt..

Lloyd grumbled while resting his chin on the wooden fence of the mansion..

And I cast my gaze into the distance.

Tree-lined road under the hill of the mansion.

I saw a man and a woman walking side by side there..

It was Julien and Serazade..

“Hmm.”

Lloyd frowned..

I remembered the events of the past few days..

So it was about five days ago?.

The evening Julien returned to the estate, Serazade's expression was very dark throughout the family meal..

It almost looked like he was going to leave this place right away..

But when the next day came?

completely different.

‘He looked like he had become a different person. Moreover, I started hanging around Julien often..’

What on earth happened that night?.

What happened that caused those two people to have such a happy relationship?.

But Lloyd wasn't curious..

‘Because that's not what's important.’

It's a bit sad that he's still single, but.

Anyway, that fact doesn't matter..

There is something much more important now..

‘It's my retirement plan..’

It wasn't some vague retirement plan..

It was a plan to deal with the so-called clearly expected crisis of old age..

‘of course. If I leave it like this, I'll never be able to suck honey for the rest of my life. The King wouldn’t let it happen like that. Are you sure.’

I was able to confirm with all my heart.

Looking back, it was like that..

So far, I have been very active..

In order to overcome the financial crisis that befell the territory,.

After that, we had to overcome physical, administrative, and bacterial and pathological crises..

Every time, he showed performance that exceeded the expectations of those around him..

That's why.

I gained too much trust from the king..

Lloyd, who had been thinking about that, bit his lip..

‘It can't be like this. I don't see any way I can just sit here comfortably for the rest of my life. If you let it go like this, you will end up just like Hwang Hee, who turned a blind eye to being unfairly exploited by King Sejong for the rest of his life..’

I didn't like that.

I wanted to avoid that situation somehow..

It was enough to have lived too hard until now..

I wanted to rest now.

I wanted to be guaranteed a comfortable retirement..

I wanted to live like that for the rest of my life, just sucking on honey..

‘To do that, we need to prepare measures..’

I have been feeling the need to take measures for some time now..

But there was no opportunity to take measures..

The picture wasn't drawn well.

I was worried.

But right now?

Hahahoho lolulala When I saw Julien and Serazade flirting, an exquisite picture that would guarantee my beautiful old age suddenly came to mind..

‘Is it possible. What if everything goes as I think? you can do it. I will be able to come up with a plan step by step to prevent the king from exploiting me as he pleases..’

Suddenly, a sinister laugh came out..

“Hehehe. So, that's right.”

Lloyd smiled slyly and looked at the handsome guy and girl down the hill..

And I checked again the big picture I just came up with..

“This hyung will play the role of cupid properly this time. Thank you, Julien.”