The scratch of a fountain pen against paper, followed by Robert Jr.'s signature, which was then sealed with the Angel's Blood logo stamp.
The Angel's Blood logo was shaped like a winged, triangular shield, beautifully engraved, with a sharp, drawn sword at its center, and a single drop of blood dripping from its tip.
After that, he stacked the documents he had completed and placed them on the edge of the table. He glanced at the cabinet clock in the left corner of his seat.
It showed eleven in the morning. Robert Jr. walked out of the room to join Ryu Mee-Yon, who was in the backyard with Park Eunji.
The door opened. Ryu Mee-Yon was sitting, looking at the flower garden, and Park Eunji was watering the plants. Park Eunji turned toward Robert Jr., put down her pruning shears, and hurried toward him.
"Young Master, do you require anything?"
Park Eunji saluted, bowing slightly with her right hand in front and her left hand lifting her maid's dress.
"No, I just wanted to see Auntie. Continue your work, I want to speak with her."
Robert Jr. returned the salute with a soft smile and lifted his right hand, turning toward Ryu Mee-Yon, who was sitting in the chair while holding her stomach.
"Understood, Young Master."
Park Eunji returned to the flower garden, cutting off the withered parts of the stems and picking a few flower stalks, placing them in a small rattan basket.
"Auntie, good afternoon. How was your rest last night? Was it sound?"
Robert Jr. stood to the right of Ryu Mee-Yon while watching Park Eunji work.
"I apologize, Young Master, I cannot greet you like Eunji. I cannot move as usual. I am very grateful that you worry about me. My rest last night was very sound."
Ryu Mee-Yon smiled faintly.
"No need to thank me, Auntie. I am just carrying out what I must. Oh, right, after lunch, would Auntie like to take a walk on the beach?"
Ryu Mee-Yon looked at Park Eunji, who might have heard, glancing back until their eyes met.
"But..."
Robert Jr. noticed the look on her face and the glance toward Park Eunji.
"Oh, we can invite Park Eunji along, how about that? If you agree, I will excuse myself now to prepare the things I want to bring."
Although his heart felt slightly uplifted seeing the light atmosphere, Robert Jr. felt a slight lump of worry that he quickly ignored.
He did not like feeling out of control outside his domain.
Robert Jr. turned around, walking two steps toward the door casually.
"Alright, Young Master, I will meet you after lunch."
He smiled faintly after hearing Ryu Mee-Yon's response, then continued his steps inside the room toward his private quarters.
"What clothes should I wear? Hmm... I think this fits."
Robert Jr. took a set of beach clothes gifted by his Father.
His shorts were blue with a black rose pattern, and his shirt was white with blue and black rose motifs.
He then took some writing tools and thin blank paper, along with a camera.
'Looks like I'm ready. Just lunch at half past twelve, and then we'll leave for the city beach at one o'clock.'
...
After lunch, they were finally ready to go. Robert Jr. waited for them in front of the car, looking at the front yard of his house.
Park Eunji was putting the items they would bring into the rear trunk, then went back inside to guide Ryu Mee-Yon from the house to the car.
"Park Eunji, are you all set? What about you, why didn't you bring anything? Are you sure about wearing the maid uniform?"
Park Eunji, who had helped Ryu Mee-Yon settle in the back of the car, approached him.
"Young Master, I am fine as I am."
"Hmm... Alright, if that's what you want. Let's go."
Park Eunji nodded, then got into the car with Ryu Mee-Yon.
Robert Jr., in the driver's seat, started the car, heading toward Ulsan Beach.
Upon arriving at the parking area near the beach, Robert Jr. began helping carry items from the rear car trunk, while Park Eunji helped Ryu Mee-Yon out of the car.
"You two head to the seashore first. I need to go to the guards and pay for our rental spot."
"Yes, Young Master, we will wait for you," they both replied simultaneously, then left Robert Jr., who was walking toward the beach guard's post.
After paying, Robert Jr. returned within five minutes to where the two women were sitting on a long bench near the beach, carrying their belongings.
"Come, I've finished renting the spot."
They both nodded, then followed Robert Jr. from behind to the spot he rented.
The location was near a large rock formation, looking clean and beautiful.
Robert Jr. took out an umbrella, lounge chairs, and a wide ground sheet.
After everything was set up, Ryu Mee-Yon sat on the lounge chair, and Park Eunji sat beside her, watching Robert Jr. tinker with his equipment and camera.
"Young Master, what are you doing? Why are you messing with that camera? Is the camera broken?"
Robert Jr., who was busy tinkering, was startled and immediately turned his head.
Suddenly, his face was too close to Park Eunji's, who was looking over his shoulder from behind. Their distance was now only a handspan.
They both stared at each other's faces and eyes. All the beach noise suddenly vanished.
Their warm breaths exhaled into the air, as if sharing a forbidden secret.
They could feel the temperature of both cheeks start to burn and turn red.
Their lips seemed almost to touch, slightly parted as if waiting for unspoken words.
Ryu Mee-Yon, seeing this, could not help but let out a small laugh.
That sound of laughter was like a loud alarm, jolting both of them out of the brief magic, then they awkwardly turned their backs to each other.
"Ah, haha, I'm just installing the memory, Park Eunji, so it's nothing."
Robert Jr. was slightly embarrassed, but he denied it, suppressing his feelings.
He tried to act as usual, but his cheeks were faintly flushed, and his eyes were subtly trembling.
'Damn it, what just happened to me? Is this because of my fetish?'
"V-Very well, Young Master, I understand."
Park Eunji tightly gripped her dress, looking down, her left finger playing with the sand on the mat.
'Does Eunji have feelings for the Young Master? Why did her expression look like that? Ho... Something interesting is happening in front of me. I'll tease her later,'
Ryu Mee-Yon suppressed a small laugh, covering her mouth.
Her eyes narrowed, observing Park Eunji, who was flustered like a teenager.
Then, she noticed Robert Jr., who seemed different when at home versus outside. This was the first time she had seen this side of him.
'The Young Master has that side too. It reminds me of Michael.'
"Done. Now let's take some photos first, a selfie of the three of us. I'll place it in the front."
Robert Jr. walked two meters forward, placing the camera, which was assembled with a one-meter thirty-centimeter high stand.
The click sound began with a ten-second timer. Robert Jr. hurried to the front of the camera.
Their portrait session, with all three smiling, lasted for five minutes with various different poses.
After they finished taking pictures, Robert Jr. asked Park Eunji to buy snacks and cold drinks, ice cream, etc.
Ten minutes passed.
Robert Jr., who was chatting and telling light stories with Ryu Mee-Yon, suddenly fell silent, narrowing his eyes toward the road.
'Why is Park Eunji taking so long?'
"Young Master, is something the matter?"
Ryu Mee-Yon looked at Robert Jr.'s face, which seemed serious as he tightly gripped a ballpoint pen, making his hand muscles clearly visible.
"Auntie, I apologize, I need to leave you here for a moment. Don't go anywhere. I will ask the guards to monitor you from a distance."
"Uh... Alright."
Robert Jr. stood up and ran toward the guard post, then followed the route where Park Eunji was supposed to be.
The slightly crowded atmosphere made it difficult for Robert Jr. to find her.
He asked the people who were gathered and those sitting on long benches about a woman dressed in a blue maid uniform with a white robe and hair in a bun.
They did not know about the woman.
There were indeed some women dressed as maids, but with the specific details Robert Jr. gave, they did not recognize Park Eunji.
Twenty-five minutes passed.
Robert Jr., who ran back and forth, found no information related to Park Eunji.
He then rested briefly near a bakery, stepping slightly into an alley, leaning against the wall, and catching his breath.
His body was soaked in sweat.
He unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his stomach, with his shirt open in the middle.
'Where are you, Park Eunji? This is my fault for sending you without my supervision. Hell with this!'
Robert Jr. walked further into the alleyway.
Inside, there was a T-junction.
He saw what looked like a new plastic bag containing a cold drink, but the contents had spilled, and the water was flowing across the floor.
Robert Jr. narrowed his eyes, approached, and touched the water, which seemed almost dry.
The water felt slightly sticky.
Then he turned toward the dark right alley.
A faint metallic scent wafted through the air, a smell he knew well: the smell of blood.
He then stood up, his entire body tensing hard.
Both his hands clenched so powerfully that his muscle veins clearly popped out, almost tearing his skin.
He ground his jaw, his teeth clashing together, creating a nearly inaudible gritting sound.
His eyes widened sharply, his pupils dilating like a wild beast ready to pounce.
His whole body began to heat up, boiling with fierce anger.
Without a word, without the slightest hesitation, he walked forward, his steps still casual, but every footfall felt like a warning drumbeat.
His face was expressionless, his eyes fixed straight ahead without blinking, yet filled with an unbearable blaze of pure rage.