Unexpected Encounter on a Heavy Day

“Let’s see each other for a bit today.”

“Today?”

Yeon Yi-seo had planned to head home early and rest, so the suggestion didn’t sound particularly welcome.

“I won’t take much of your time. I just want to see your face. Ten minutes is all I need. Please?”

When he went that far, it was hard to coldly refuse. After agreeing to meet Seo Eun-woo—who offered to come near his house—at a cafe three blocks away, Yi-seo hung up.

When Yi-seo arrived at the cafe, Seo Eun-woo was already there waiting. He raised a hand to signal his presence, but his expression quickly contorted into shock.

“…What the, your face! What happened to your face?”

“Ah.”

Yi-seo opened his mouth slightly, then quickly acted as if it were nothing.

“I just tripped.”

“Tripped? …And you expect me to believe that?”

Seo Eun-woo looked suspicious. But what else could he do but believe it? Yi-seo simply curled the corners of his mouth upward. Seo Eun-woo stared at him for a moment, then furrowed his brow in disapproval.

“I don’t recall the original story mentioning you being on bad terms with anyone. Ah, drink this. It just came out.”

“How much do I owe you?”

“Forget it. I’m the one who asked to meet. The person who asks for the meeting pays.”

“Mm, thank you.”

After thanking Seo Eun-woo, who spoke as if he’d never dream of taking the money, Yi-seo sipped the café latte. The sweet, warm drink soothed both his body and mind.

Noticing that Seo Eun-woo’s gaze still wouldn’t leave his cheek, Yi-seo gave a small smile.

“You don’t have to worry. I really just fell.”

“…Hmm. Fine. How is your body?”

“That’s fine too.”

“Don’t people tell you you’re stubborn?”

“Do they?”

Yi-seo replied in a voice that hadn’t changed a bit.

“You look like you’ve lost weight.”

“I think I lost some while I was sick.”

“Are you talking about someone else’s business?”

“It’s my business, so I know better. I’m really okay. It only looks that way, but my condition isn’t that bad.”

Seo Eun-woo let out a low groan, an “Aigo.” It seemed he had realized that Yeon Yi-seo was no pushover.

“You look so gentle, but you’re tougher than in the original story.”

“Tough? I think I’m just average.”

“Average, my foot.”

Seo Eun-woo took a sip of the herbal tea in front of him and exhaled a sigh.

“I came to see if you were alright, but now I’m even more worried. Finish that and let’s get up. Looking at your face, you need to go in and rest.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“I’m saying this because it looks that bad.”

Yi-seo thought Seo Eun-woo was more of a worrier than he appeared. It felt especially so because Yi-seo really felt fine. He could walk on his own two feet, and the pain wasn’t unbearable. Doesn’t everyone just endure and push through this much? It wasn’t as if he was special. However, since he craved rest, he followed Seo Eun-woo’s lead as if he were being dragged into it.

“Go inside, get plenty of rest, and make sure to use a compress. Got it?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Yi-seo nodded readily, but Seo Eun-woo still seemed unconvinced. Yi-seo held out his pinky finger to him.

“Shall we make a promise?”

“Forget it. What are you doing, really?”

As if finally relaxing at Yi-seo’s remark, Seo Eun-woo gave a short laugh. It didn’t take long to empty the coffee while exchanging brief updates on their lives.

“Should I drop you off?”

“No, it’s right nearby.”

Seo Eun-woo, seemingly having grasped that Yi-seo didn’t easily bend once he’d made up his mind, shrugged and nodded. After saying goodbye and waving to Seo Eun-woo as he got into his waiting car, Yi-seo headed toward his home.

Once back, Yi-seo wetted a towel and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds to make a hot compress. While pressing it against his cheek, he stared at the hot dog he was having for dinner. He didn’t have much of an appetite, but he was the one who would suffer if he didn’t eat.

He felt he should be grateful that he could even have dinner, given it hadn’t been long since he’d been paid.

Yi-seo checked the date on the calendar. The Friday the party was scheduled for was May 5th. On a US calendar, it was nothing more than a plain weekday. But for Yi-seo, it was different.

He wanted to rest on that day if possible, but because he had recently taken sick leave before even completing a year of service, it was procedurally impossible. As he stared blankly at his toes, a scene from an old memory surfaced in his mind.

‘I-seo, in Korea, May 5th is Children’s Day, and it’s a very special celebration.’

‘Since both Mommy and Daddy are off that day, shall we go on a family trip? You wanted to go to the amusement park, didn’t you? Shall we go there?’

‘Really? Truly?’

‘Of course.’

The memory of his parents’ voices had grown faint, but he remembered with absolute clarity that the day had been filled with laughter and anticipation.

‘Honey, what do— I-seo…!’

Then, the massive roar and the darkness followed. Yi-seo reflexively squeezed his eyes shut. The crashing sound that had felt like it would tear his eardrums and vibrate through his whole body seemed to echo in his ears even now.

He kept his eyes closed for a while until the sound faded, only to realize the towel on his cheek had grown cold. He let out a sigh and stood up to heat it in the microwave once more.

Friday evening. The party hosted by Ethan began.

The scale was magnificent, as they had rented out an entire 3,000-square-meter building. Since the party was held in the name of Damin’s CEO, the guest list was formidable. Senators and Representatives were on the list, along with business tycoons and even judges. There were also celebrities like singers and movie stars.

Yi-seo had to treat them all with a smile, no matter what. Even if they made unreasonable demands. There were many staff members, of course, but if a problem arose, Yi-seo had to step in and resolve the situation depending on the circumstances.

Even for the well-trained Yi-seo, smiling for over five hours straight felt like it would cause his face to cramp. Thinking he needed a break, he headed up to the second floor and ducked into a quiet, secluded corner. It wasn’t completely empty, but compared to the floor below, there was almost no one.

Thinking he could catch his breath here, he sat in a chair. The high-backed chair was excellent. He slumped back comfortably, holding a bottle of cold mineral water with condensation forming on the surface.

“Ah… this is exhausting.”

It seemed they had thrown a party as large as a year-end gala to lobby for some upcoming legal changes, and they had been kept incredibly busy. While it was the subordinates who were ground down in such positions, Ethan likely wasn’t having an easy time either. Still, as a Dominant, his physical stamina would be far superior to Yi-seo’s.

Regardless, it was actually better to be busy on a day like today. Even in a boisterous party, the loneliness didn’t change, but at least he could avoid sinking into his own thoughts.

However, there were clear physical limits. For Yi-seo, who hadn’t been able to sleep properly, enduring this party was becoming increasingly difficult.

“You there. The person sitting there, are you a staff member?”

Someone spoke to him from behind. He had come here to avoid people, only to be pinpointed and called out. Talk about luck.

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

The man who spoke to Yi-seo had an uncanny ability to distinguish between guests and staff. Yi-seo hadn’t even opened his water bottle yet. He let out a small sigh and stood up from the chair, water in hand.

The man sighed as he looked at the floor. At a glance, he appeared to be an Alpha, but he looked very exhausted.

“I’d like something to drink.”

“Yes. Would you like alcohol or juice?”

“Alcohol. On the rocks, please.”

Yi-seo nodded to the man, who spoke while brushing his eyebrow with his ring finger, and left. He seemed like a man accustomed to commanding others.

While Yi-seo thought juice might be better for someone who looked tired, he didn’t bother suggesting it. He didn’t know who the man was, but anyone invited to this party was likely a VIP. From the perspective of a mere employee, there was no reason to risk offending him by questioning his request.

Yi-seo brought him the glass of liquor as requested. The man said thank you, but he took the glass without even looking at Yi-seo. Judging by the way he kept rubbing his brow, he seemed to be in considerable discomfort.

Sure enough, he pulled a pill bottle from his pocket and tapped out two tablets. Wait, is that medicine? Is he going to take medicine with alcohol? It was unlikely to be vitamins or breath mints. After a moment of internal conflict, Yi-seo finally managed to speak.

“Would you perhaps like some water?”

“Pardon?”

At Yi-seo’s question, the man turned his head. Finally able to see the man’s face clearly, Yi-seo pressed his lips together. He praised himself for not accidentally screaming out loud. He had to bite his tongue to suppress the shriek.

Tamir Ali Muhammad. A man with royal blood and an oil tycoon. But that wasn’t why Yi-seo was shaken. The most critical issue was that he was a character—and a love interest—in <The Sickly Master>.