Freedom, Signed and Sealed

“Don’t tell me… this is some kind of written pledge claiming that our broken engagement is entirely my fault?”

At this point, I didn’t even feel angry—only a hollow laugh escaped me.

Just how badly had Baek Dojun been tormented by Seong Chanyeong for his thoughts to always jump to such extreme, negative conclusions?

‘Whatever. I’ll let it slide. Poor guy.’

I calmly and neatly explained what was inside the envelope.

“No.

It’s just a written pledge saying I won’t appear in front of you again, and a document stating that we both agree to break off the engagement.”

“That can’t b…It’s real.”

Baek Dojun, who had been glaring at me in suspicion, opened the envelope—and the moment he confirmed its contents, he withdrew his angry pheromones.

Inside was a non-contact agreement, the same format as the one I had given to Seo Eunsu.

And along with it, the engagement termination agreement.

I had stamped it instead of signing, since a difference in handwriting might raise suspicion.

All that was left was Baek Dojun’s signature or seal in the blank space—and my worries would be over.

‘Finding the official seal was such a pain…’

“If you just agree to it, then that’s the end of things between you and me.”

I cut a piece of the grilled tteokgalbi, golden-brown and glistening.

The chestnut filling inside looked rich and savory.

Watching me casually start eating first, Baek Dojun looked stunned.

“You’re really… going to break off the engagement with me?
Without placing any disadvantage on me?”

“I’ve told you that several times already.”

“……”

“I know you’ve had a hard time because of me all this while.

But even so, I’d like it if you didn’t dismiss my decision now as a lie.”

I placed a piece of cool napa kimchi on top of the tteokgalbi and ate it with a spoonful of white rice.

The moment I swallowed—it felt like heaven.

Thanks to the melt-in-your-mouth food, I could even forget the unpleasant pheromones he’d released earlier.

“You must’ve hated me to death. I was always tormenting you.”

“……”

“I’m not asking you to forgive me.

I don’t think a late apology like that could ever make up for what you went through.”

But still—

“What I said about not liking you anymore is true.

It’s not like I chose you as my fiancé without feeling anything at all from the start.”

“……What do you mean by that?”

“It means exactly what it sounds like. I both liked you—and disliked you.”

This was me speaking to Baek Dojun on behalf of Seong Chanyeong.

In the original story, even until his downfall, Chanyeong never admitted it—but he did have feelings for Baek Dojun.

‘Otherwise, he wouldn’t have even thought of forcing himself on him.’

Beyond his inferiority complex toward Seo Eunsu, Chanyeong had also wanted to be loved by Baek Dojun.

I wasn’t saying this out of pity.

I was saying it to make the breakup more convincing.

‘He keeps asking for a reason… so I have to make him accept it somehow.’

I didn’t feel guilty.

This was better for both of us.

This was the best choice.

Baek Dojun seemed deeply shaken by my confession.

Unlike me, he couldn’t even take a single bite—he just sat there frozen, holding his spoon.

“Then why…?”

“Because not anymore.

My feelings for you are gone, and I’m sick of the pathetic things I’ve been doing out of jealousy toward Seo Eunsu.”

Next, my chopsticks moved toward the glossy slices of bossam.

Wrapped with tender young greens—it was absolutely perfect.

I stuffed my cheeks full, chewed thoroughly, swallowed, and continued.

“So I decided to stop everything.
I don’t want to live like that anymore.”

Of course, I was actually excited about my upcoming peaceful farming life—

but some truths were better left unsaid.

“So drop your suspicions and just sign it.

That’s my last request.”

“…Then you’re saying you’ll never appear in front of me again?”

“Yeah. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

“What about Seo Eunsu? Did you do the same with the others?”

“Yeah.

Of course.

You can check yourself if you want.”

Everything had already been taken care of.

I had nothing to hide.

After watching me quietly for a moment, Baek Dojun finally moved his hand and signed the document.

‘Yes! Let’s go!’

I cheered internally.

Finally—I had cut off even Seong Chanyeong’s fiancé.

Freedom.

Dobby is free.

“I’ll trust you—just this once and for the last time, Seong Chanyeong.

If what you say is true, then this is good for both of us.
I’ll sign.”

Yeah, yeah.
Good job.

After what happened with Joo Taegang, my opinion of these male leads had hit rock bottom.

But seeing Baek Dojun cooperate like this almost made me want to kiss his cheek.

“But remember this—if you’re plotting something else through this, I won’t let you off.”

‘Do these guys communicate exclusively through threats or what?’

Since I had no intention of causing any trouble, his warning didn’t bother me in the slightest.

“Do whatever you want.”

Just don’t come looking for me.

Please.

After that, I happily continued eating.

Meanwhile, Baek Dojun still hadn’t taken a single bite—he just stared at me.

‘What is it now…Why are you making things awkward?’

No matter how good the food was, eating alone like a pig while someone watched was uncomfortable.

“What are you staring at? Aren’t you eating?”

“You’re acting like a completely different person. That’s what’s strange.”

Cough—

The lotus root I had been chewing suddenly got stuck in my throat.

I gulped down cold water and deliberately replied in a more irritated, Chanyeong-like tone.

“What about it?

Stop talking and just eat.

This will be the last meal you and I share anyway.”

I fully expected him to ignore me and leave.

After all, Baek Dojun absolutely hated Seong Chanyeong.

“…Alright.”

But strangely, he agreed—and started eating.

Even though I had already cleared out most of the dishes with my expert chopstick skills, he quietly ate what remained.

‘W-What…?’

Even his pheromones had settled again, returning to a calm, forest-like scent.

That made me even more uneasy.

Honestly, it would’ve been easier if he had just said, “Good, I’ll never see you again,” and left.

But instead—

Baek Dojun stayed until the end and finished the meal with me.

Not a single grain of rice left.

As we were about to leave, he was the one who brought up the topic again.

Something I had originally planned to say myself.

“How are you planning to handle telling both families about the broken engagement?”

“I’ll take care of it.

You don’t need to worry.

I was the one who suggested both the engagement and the breakup—so this is my responsibility.”

“So you do know the word ‘responsibility.’”

What the hell did you just say?

I wasn’t even the real Seong Chanyeong, but the condescension in his tone still annoyed me.

Who does he think he’s talking to?

“Hmm…Will you really be fine on your own?

I doubt your chairman will take this well.”

“I’ll handle that myself. Stay out of it.

You’re not my fiancé anymore.”

This was strange.

Baek Dojun… worrying about Seong Chanyeong?

If it were me, I wouldn’t care whether I got scolded by my grandfather or not.

‘Is this guy a pushover…?’

That was the only explanation that came to mind.

‘Whatever. He’s probably just happy about breaking off the engagement.’

I didn’t want to think too deeply about it.

My goal was achieved.

I had no reason to care about Baek Dojun anymore.

Now, all that was left—

was to leave and start farming.

Recently, Baek Dojun had been extremely unsettled.

Because the behavior of his vicious fiancé—who used to treat him like a servant—had become suspiciously strange.

It started with the housekeeper he had planted in Seong Chanyeong’s home being dismissed.

“…What did you just say?”

[I mean exactly that, young master.
Seong Chanyeong said he was giving me leave—and sent me away.]

‘Leave?’

That guy—who acted like he couldn’t even lift a spoon without someone attending to him?

After receiving the call, Baek Dojun briefly suspected that the housekeeper was lying.

But she had been his nanny since childhood.

There was no way she would betray him.

And her flustered voice only confirmed that something unexpected had happened.

“Then did Seong Chanyeong hire someone new during that time?”

If not, he assumed Chanyeong must have gone off to a hotel or villa—

probably dragging along a few Alphas for entertainment, as usual.

‘He’s always the same.’

Having endured years of obsessive torment under the guise of being his fiancé, Baek Dojun knew exactly how Seong Chanyeong operated.

[No.]

But this time—

his guess was wrong.

[He said he wouldn’t hire anyone, and that he’d stay home alone.
He said he needed time by himself.]

‘What?’

It was as absurd as the sun rising in the west.

Baek Dojun nearly shouted in disbelief.