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Jang Min-wook was sitting in a cafe with his friends, scanning the girls coming in. It was originally a gathering for his friends who had just been discharged from the military. Known as a socialite even in college, he had planned to call some close female friends to hang out. There were plenty of girls who would jump at the chance to drink with him if he asked.

Someone might think it’s unlucky to hear this, but what can you do? Jang Min-wook was well aware of his good looks. He decided to use his charm for his friends’ sake. After all, the guys who had just left the military must have been craving female company more than anything. They were the type who would be over the moon just drinking with girls. He had boldly promised to bring girls who were way out of their league.

But on the day, the girls who were supposed to come all bailed at the last minute, as if they had conspired to go to an idol concert instead. They apologized, but Jang Min-wook, who was beyond upset, didn’t even respond. Rude girls. They could’ve at least told him earlier.

His pride was hurt. In the end, Jang Min-wook ended up drinking soju with his guy friends at a pork soup restaurant from noon. After a gloomy first round, they stumbled into a cafe, slightly tipsy, thinking they might hit up a pojangmacha (street tent bar) for a second round after sunset.

Jang Min-wook scanned the cafe. He always checked if there were any girls who matched his taste wherever he went. On weekends, groups of girls often gathered.

“Oh?”

His eyes widened as he spotted two girls sitting in a corner of the cafe.

“Great proportions…”

Even though they were wearing snapbacks pulled low, it was obvious. Both were stunningly beautiful.

“Hey. Those two over there. They look good, right?”

“Huh? Hmm… their figures look nice.”

“Dude. Do you think those girls would even give you the time of day? What does it matter if their figures are nice or not? They wouldn’t date you anyway.”

“Damn. Harsh.”

“Should I go over and try my luck? They look really pretty.”

“You can’t even see their faces. How do you know?”

“Bro, I can tell just by looking.”

Jang Min-wook’s instincts, honed from meeting countless women, were telling him. These were girls he shouldn’t miss.

“So, are you going to hit on them or not?”

“Uh… well, it’d be better if you went instead. The odds are higher.”

“Ah, Min-wook, don’t do it. I’ve been watching them, and they came in with a guy who looked like their boyfriend earlier.”

“One guy?”

“Huh?”

“Was it just one guy?”

“Yeah. I didn’t see any other guys.”

“Maybe he’s just a friend.”

“Maybe… but what if he’s their boyfriend? That’d be embarrassing.”

“Well, at least one of them might not have a boyfriend. Watch and learn, guys.”

Jang Min-wook smirked and walked over to their table.

As he passed by the girl wearing a hat and hood pulled low…

“Oops!”

“?!”

He accidentally knocked off the hat Bella was wearing.

Bella, caught off guard, froze in place.

“Ah! I’m sorry. It was an accident…”

Jang Min-wook was speechless when he saw Bella’s face revealed under the hat.

Her face was pale. Her hair, dyed silver, was beautiful, and her cat-like eyes were sharp. Above all, her blue eyes were more captivating than any girl he had ever seen.

“Uh…”

“Can I have my hat back?”

“Uh… you’re really pretty.”

“…? Just give me my hat.”

“Come on. Why are you hiding such a pretty face? You look much better without the hat.”

Jang Min-wook, staring intently at Bella, quickly regained his composure and started his prepared pickup lines.

“Are you a foreigner? Your Korean is really good. Are you mixed?”

“……”

“Are you a celebrity?”

“……”

Bella remained silent, not feeling the need to answer. She wanted to get angry at him, but she wasn’t in a position to do so.

She didn’t want to cause a scene. Especially in this unfamiliar country, South Korea.

They had entered the country using a magic formula Tristan had created. It was practically illegal entry. Tristan had warned them to be careful not to cause any trouble. That’s why Bella remained silent despite the man’s rudeness.

Blanshe, too, was holding back. She wanted to immediately subdue the man who had been rude to Bella, but she had no choice but to endure.

“Miss… no, please return my close friend’s hat.”

“Hahaha. Close friend? Not just a friend? Your friend’s way of speaking is really funny, you know? But your friend is really pretty too.”

Blanshe’s expression turned openly displeased. She didn’t know what to do with a man who wouldn’t back down even when she made it clear she disliked him.

Unaware of the situation, Jang Min-wook thought Bella and Blanshe were playing hard to get and decided to push even harder.

“How old are you two? Tell me, and I’ll give the hat back.”

“I don’t feel like answering a stranger.”

“Come on. Who knows everyone from the start? We can get to know each other gradually. This is fate. Want to hang out with my friends?”

“No.”

Bella answered firmly, but Jang Min-wook ignored her and gestured to his friends.

“Wow… are you a celebrity?”

“No. I haven’t seen her on TV. Is she a streamer?”

“No. I haven’t seen her face in broadcasts. Is she a model? Her Korean is fluent.”

The men’s eyes scrutinized Bella and Blanshe. Their gazes were lecherous and unpleasant. If this had happened in the empire she came from, insulting a duke’s daughter would have been punishable by death.

But this wasn’t the empire.

“Enough.”

“Ha… isn’t this going too far?”

“Isn’t it you who’s going too far? You come up to us out of nowhere and say weird things. Just give me my hat back.”

“Then I won’t give it back.”

“What did you say?”

“If you don’t give me your number, I won’t give the hat back.”

“What kind of…”

Bella almost called him an idiot but stopped herself. It was her first time meeting Jang Min-wook, but she could roughly guess what kind of person he was.

She had met men like him in social circles. Men who, relying solely on their looks, deluded themselves into thinking every woman in the world would fall for them. Ironically, these men, who claimed to have met many women, were utterly clueless in front of women.

And Bella really disliked this type of man.

“Number? I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I don’t feel obligated to answer.”

“Ah, you’re not saying you don’t have a phone, are you? That’d be disappointing.”

“Ha… you really have no sense.”

“Hey. You’re being too harsh. It’s because you’re so pretty. Ah, want to take a photo with us?”

“Oh, sure. Sounds good.”

“I want to take a photo too.”

“Huh? Who said you could? Go away.”

“Hey. Seriously. We’re not weirdos.”

“Then are you just rude?”

“Ah?!”

Jang Min-wook, about to take a photo with his phone, screamed in pain as his arm was gripped tightly.

“What, what the hell!? Who are you…?”

The one gripping his wrist was a tall man.

“I should be asking you. Who are you?”

A low, calm voice spoke. The grip on Jang Min-wook’s wrist tightened.

‘What kind of strength is this?!’

He couldn’t move at all, even though only his arm was being held. Finally, Jang Min-wook glared at the man holding him.

“What… the hell?”

Jang Min-wook had never considered himself lacking in looks. He believed he was in the top 10%, maybe even 7%, in terms of appearance.

But the man in front of him was in the top 1%… no, even 0.1%. His sharp jawline and chillingly cold eyes. At first glance, his delicate, androgynous face could be mistaken for a woman’s. But his body told a different story. Broad shoulders, muscular arms, and the hand gripping Jang Min-wook’s wrist. The strength in that hand clearly declared he was a man.

“Didn’t you hear me? I asked who you are.”

“Huh? What kind of middle-schooler talk is thaaaat?!”

“Answer when I ask you.”

His arm felt like it was caught in a machine. It hurt. He thought the grip was already tight, but was he tightening it even more?

If Jang Min-wook hadn’t been drinking, he might have backed down by now. But the alcohol had fueled his pride.

“Damn it, let go! It hurts!”

“Have you been drinking?”

“…So what? Who are you…? Ah, are you her boyfriend?”

“No.”

Tristan shook his head. At that, Jang Min-wook’s lips curled up. What? He thought for sure he was the boyfriend and had been on guard. If he’s just a friend, there’s no need to be wary.

“What then? A friend? Is this how you act as a friend? You should wish your friends well. Who do you think you are…?”

“She’s my fiancée.”

Tristan placed his hand on Bella’s shoulder as he said this.

“…What?”

“I said she’s my fiancée.”

In an instant, cold sweat ran down Jang Min-wook’s back. Had he just hit on a woman who was about to become someone’s wife? Whether it was a boyfriend or a fiancé, it was the same—she was taken. But somehow, the idea of her being a soon-to-be wife made him feel like he had crossed a line.

‘Fiancée…’

On the other hand, Bella was slightly surprised by Tristan’s words. He wasn’t the type to show his emotions or express himself in front of others. Whether it was shyness or indifference, he had never introduced Bella as his fiancée in front of others before. Bella had called herself Tristan’s fiancée, but…

‘Haha…’

Bella unconsciously tried to hide the smile forming on her lips.

“Hey, Min-wook. You messed up.”

“Yeah… what were you thinking, hitting on someone else’s fiancée… huh?”

Even his friends backed down. Jang Min-wook had long since given up on trying anything with Bella.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”

“You should apologize to her, not me.”

“Ah, I really didn’t know…”

“Don’t you know how to apologize?”

“?!”

His pride was thoroughly crushed. Yet, the remnants of his pride made him grumble, but suddenly, he felt like he couldn’t breathe.

Tristan was glaring at him with eyes mixed with ‘wrath.’ Although he had adjusted his strength for a normal person, Jang Min-wook, unaware of the nature of ‘wrath,’ felt his legs go weak.

“I-I’m sorry… I really didn’t know…”

“If you’re drunk, go home.”

Tristan took the hat from Jang Min-wook and returned it to Bella. The ‘wrath’ in his eyes had completely disappeared.

“Sorry. This guy is just crazy about women…”

“We’re sorry too… Hey, Min-wook, let’s go.”

A man crazy about women. Jang Min-wook might indeed be that kind of guy.

Not wanting to leave empty-handed, he mustered the courage to speak one last time.

“Uh, hey… so…”

“?”

“Then… you’re single, right…?”

“Huh? Single…?”

Jang Min-wook’s question was directed at Blanshe, who was sitting next to Bella.

“Hey… you really…”

“Why are you like this…”

“Come on, it’s just a question.”

Blanshe, though not as stunning as Bella, was still among the most beautiful women Jang Min-wook had ever seen. He thought his obsession might be a bit much.

But who knows? With looks like that, maybe she’d show some interest… Jang Min-wook thought.

Blanshe, who had been pondering the question, finally spoke.

“Single… Ah. Yes. I guess I am. It’s easier to fight alone…”

“That’s not what he meant.”

“Huh?”

Finally, Tristan sighed and spoke.

“This woman…”

His answer was enough to shock everyone present.

“She’s my concubine.”

 

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