'She doesn't seem bad; I feel genuinely sorry for her.'
The atmosphere in the room became awkward after Park Eunji left.
Ryu Mee-Yon remained silent, her head bowed, her thumbs nervously rubbing against each other on her lap.
As Robert Jr. was peeling an apple, he occasionally glanced at Ryu Mee-Yon, making the woman increasingly nervous.
After peeling the apple, Robert Jr. cut it into small pieces.
He skewered a piece of fruit with a toothpick and then offered it to Ryu Mee-Yon.
"This is for you, Auntie. Relax, I don't blame you." Robert Jr. said softly, smiling as he offered the piece of fruit with his right hand.
Ryu Mee-Yon shyly reached out, took the piece of fruit, ate it slowly, and swallowed it.
The tension had now lessened.
Ryu Mee-Yon occasionally looked at Robert Jr., who was enjoying another piece of fruit.
"Y-Young M-master, thank you."
"Haha, no need to thank me. I just offered you a small slice."
The room door slowly opened. Park Eunji brought in a wheeled table and then closed the door again.
"Madam, your food has arrived. It is time for you to eat. After this, I will escort you to your new room."
Robert Jr. turned toward Park Eunji, who was now standing next to the table.
He quickly gathered the remnants of his meal into a single pile in the center of the table so Park Eunji could easily take them.
"Auntie, please eat calmly with Park Eunji. I have to head to my room now. I apologize for not being able to stay with you."
Ryu Mee-Yon nodded, watching Robert Jr. stand up from the chair, pick up the cloth filled with jewelry, and leave the room.
"Madam, please don't overthink things. It's not good for your health or your baby's. Now, let's have the meal I've prepared. I will stay and accompany you."
Park Eunji placed the food on the table after taking Robert Jr.'s used plates and setting them on the lower rack of the wheeled cart.
"You are so kind to me, Eunji. I just feel like he doesn't like a person like me."
After setting down the food, Park Eunji sat down next to her, reaching for and holding Ryu Mee-Yon's rubbing hands.
"Perhaps the Young Master is just not used to it. Seeing you must remind him of many things. Please relax, I will stay with you."
Ryu Mee-Yon looked at Park Eunji's face. Tears suddenly flowed, and she began to sob.
"I'm so worried that he won't like me, especially since I'm just a burden. And I just learned that his father disappeared... seeing me probably hit him hard."
Park Eunji hugged her, gently patting her back, leaning Ryu Mee-Yon close until the sobs quieted.
"Now, eat."
Park Eunji took a bowl of warm chicken porridge, slowly spoon-feeding Ryu Mee-Yon, her face looking sad.
'The Madam is calmer now. But... why did the Young Master bring her here, away from his family? Is this protection, or is he hiding another plan?'
Robert Jr., who was beside the outer room door, stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, lifting his left leg, and eavesdropping.
'I didn't mean to make her feel guilty. But thinking about being jealous of that baby... it just makes me feel like a child myself.'
Robert Jr. held the locket beneath his shirt with his left hand. He closed his eyes and let out a small sigh.
'Fine, I'll just stick to my plan. I'm already used to living in this world.'
He left the spot, walking toward his private room on the second floor.
He opened the door, placed the cloth filled with jewelry on his small table, and opened the window.
The night breeze entered the room, and a clear crescent moon was visible in the bright sky.
Robert Jr. sat down in the chair, supporting his head with his right hand, observing the crescent moon.
That deep gaze brought a sense of calm to his heart.
'I wonder what they're doing over there now? I miss you all.'
Robert Jr. opened his desk drawer, took out a book from his mother from when he lived with her, and spent his time before Michael called him to South Korea.
The book looked ancient, containing sketches of spells, rituals, and magical ingredients. The writing was in the cosmic Alphabet, not from Earth.
Since Robert Jr. had studied the alphabet with his mother when he was little, he understood the contents of the book.
He opened the book, turning page after page until he found one of the dark methods his mother had once recorded.
Robert Jr. narrowed his eyes, reading the cosmic alphabet symbols: 'Eye-for-an-Eye Transfer.' A dark idea suddenly formed in his mind.
'Mother, forgive me, but it seems I must use this ritual. When that baby is born, I will gouge out my right eye, exchange it for the baby's eye, and perform the dark ritual that you forbade... With that, I can see you there.'
Robert Jr. closed the book again, storing it in his desk drawer.
He then opened the cloth of jewelry, carried it, and stored it in his private cabinet.
Robert Jr.'s room was basically simple; there was only one large, expensive-looking painting of him as a baby being held by his mother.
He himself often looked at the painting before sleeping.
"Hah! One more month is quite a long time if I keep thinking about it. Time to sleep and start my activities again tomorrow. I still have an important task tomorrow, too."
He got up from the chair, closing the room window.
Robert Jr. then lay down on his side in bed, pulling up his thick blanket.
He stared at the painting until he fell fast asleep, with a smile and a tear rolling down his cheek.
Park Eunji cleaned the remaining food and pushed the wheeled table into the corner.
"Come, Madam, let me escort you. Your room is upstairs; I have also moved your belongings there."
Ryu Mee-Yon stood up slowly.
They walked through the quiet hallway toward the main staircase, accompanied by the silence of the night and the echoing whispers of their footsteps.
"This is your room, Madam, the one the Young Master prepared. He is kind, isn't he?"
The room door opened, revealing a luxurious and large space. The wide glass window, without curtains, let the moonlight stream in, creating a beautiful view.
"This is truly too much. The Young Master is too kind. However, I will happily take it."
Ryu Mee-Yon smiled slightly. Park Eunji led her to sit on the edge of the wide bed.
"Please rest peacefully. I will return to my room. I will leave you now."
"Thank you for accompanying me, helping me, and bringing me here."
"Of course, Madam. This was all the Young Master's command. Good night."
Park Eunji stroked her back, then stood up, smiled, and left Ryu Mee-Yon alone in her new room.
The room door closed. Now, only a small lamp illuminated the spacious room.
Ryu Mee-Yon, sitting on the edge of the bed, began to look around before her gaze settled on the large window.
'Young Master, I think I misjudged you. You are actually a very kind person,' Ryu Mee-Yon thought.
She smiled faintly.
Her heart began to mend, and her thoughts became positive toward Robert Jr., whom she had thought hated her.
'Boss Michael... No, Michael. Where are you? I'm carrying your child. Don't you want to see your child?'
She held her large belly, stroking it while looking at her stomach.
'I miss you. Since that night, and when you left me alone in that room, I felt devastated. Then Park Eunji told me you disappeared... my heart aches so much.'
Ryu Mee-Yon gripped the fabric over her chest with both hands, her gaze returning to the window.
Tears fell again.
She then lay down, closed her eyes, without pulling up the blanket.
...
"Diablo, Diablo, time to wake up. It's morning now, you've been sleeping too much."
Robert Jr. woke up with a start; his mother's voice, which he heard in his dream, still echoed. He held his head, regulated his breathing, and looked around. The morning light began to stream in through the gaps in the window.
'Was it just a dream?'
He sighed, getting out of bed. He opened the window, inhaled deeply while rubbing his eyes.
"This morning went by so fast... Yawn!"
He scratched his chest beneath his pajama top, walking out of the room toward the bathroom next to his room.
He turned on the faucet. While brushing his teeth, his eyes were still closed.
He washed his face, tidied his rather long and messy hair.
After that, he tied his hair up, wiped his face, and changed clothes.
He walked toward his office, greeting the servants and his father's subordinates who looked quite busy.
"Uncle, are there any documents I need to sign? Or any other Mafias who want to cooperate? You look very busy today, Uncle."
"Oh, Young Master, does it look that way? Haha. This is just routine. Last night, I already sent stock for the future business. As for cooperation with others... perhaps none. However..."
S No. II leaned in and whispered softly into Robert Jr.'s left ear.
"Why did the Young Master bring that woman here? Isn't she your father's mistress? If the Young Master desires her, then I have no right to say too much."
"Relax, Uncle. I just have something I want from her. Well then, I'll head to my room. Continue your work, Uncle. Is there anything I can help with this morning?"
"No, no need. I have also brought new documents to your desk, regarding the contract extension with the Mafia from Australia."
"Okay, understood, Uncle. Thank you. I trust you. Do the other Codes know about this?"
S No. II stood straight again, smiled, shook his head, then saluted the Young Master before leaving Robert Jr.
Robert Jr. scratched his chin.
'Of course, S No. II knows. He is Father's most loyal eyes and ears. There's no way a secret this small would escape his surveillance.'
'Hmm... It seems so. Well, time to work. This morning is beautiful. Maybe afterward, I'll take a walk on the beach.'
Robert Jr. walked toward the room, humming softly, tucking both hands into his trousers.