Try Living Well Without Me

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“Ugh….”

The refreshing morning sunlight streams in through the windows. I can’t help but smile peacefully at how bright and dazzling it is.

Now that I’ve shaken off the false accusations, there will probably only be a bright future ahead from now on, right?

I naturally feel happier. With a faint smile on my lips, I lower my head.

There, my beloved wife, Soeun Yu, lies sleeping soundly.

Last night, she abruptly entered my bedroom… and we spent the night together. That doesn’t mean anything heated happened between us, though.

We simply held each other and slept. Just that—yet I feel an immense sense of intimacy.

I wonder why I used to avoid Soeun in the past. The question passes quickly.

Back then, I had to suppress my desires. Now, I no longer need to restrain myself, but strangely, my desire itself has vanished. What an ironic situation.

“Umm…”

Soeun mumbles something in her sleep.

She’s truly beautiful. Even after giving birth to two children, her beauty hasn’t faded—it seems only to have bloomed further. It captivates me entirely.

How could I ever have shared any intimacy with Hong Ryun when Soeun is this stunning? I’m ashamed of myself. Such mistakes must never happen again.

“Hmm.”

But then…

Why have I been feeling someone’s gaze for a while now?

“…Are you awake, Uncle?”

“H-Huh!?”

Suddenly, a voice comes from behind me, making me whip my head around.

“Ah, Miss?”

“Hehe, good morning.”

There stood Gayoung Jin, pressed up against the wall like a ghost, staring at me with dead eyes.

Her gaze was chilly.

– Oh no, my sweet tooth is tingling…

Even though I haven’t done anything wrong, I instinctively feel a pinch of guilt. I swallow hard.

How long has she been hiding her presence, remaining unnoticed even after I woke up? A chill runs down my spine.

“Uncle, did you sleep well?”

“Ahem, that’s an embarrassing question. Yes, I always sleep soundly, but I appear to have caused you to witness an inappropriate sight.”

“Did you… sleep… well?”

“Miss?”

“Haha, not at all! Uncle, you’re a man, aren’t you? Of course, you’d sleep soundly with someone like Lady Yu nearby.”

As she says this, Gayoung Jin slowly approaches the bed where I am lying.

The ominous sense of threat makes me instinctively stretch my hand backward.

“By the way…”

Before I know it, Gayoung Jin is already standing right in front of me.

“Why is it not me, Uncle?”

As she says this, Gayoung Jin climbs one knee onto the bed where Soeun and I are resting.

“Why do you choose Lady Yu over me?”

Her words hit me like a dagger, lodging deep into my heart. For some reason, I feel my heart sink.

Meanwhile, Soeun remains blissfully asleep through all of this, which is fortunate.

“Miss… please… calm yourself…”

“Calm down? You want me to calm down?”

“Haa…”

This isn’t going to end well.

We’ve just reconciled, after all. Last night, I promised Soeun that I’d only look at her from now on. No matter how special Gayoung Jin might be, it’s unacceptable for anyone to enter my bedroom without permission.

“Lady Yu and I are married. Why do you have a problem with that?”

“T-That is…!”

“Miss, although I am deeply grateful to you, there is a line that must not be crossed. Please respect that. Besides, this is no longer my private room, now that my wife is here. If you keep entering this room freely, you might make my wife uncomfortable.”

“S-Sorry…! I must’ve lost my mind for a moment…”

When I speak curtly, Gayoung Jin quickly shifts her attitude to apologize. Women truly are mysterious beings.

But I made a promise. To Soeun.

To love no one but her.

I don’t plan to break that promise. Naturally, I must also avoid any actions that might make Soeun feel uneasy.

Under normal circumstances, I might have accepted her advances. But not now.

“Ugh… But… really… I can sleep with you too…”

“How dare you suggest such a thing, Miss. How can you think about sharing a bed with me?”

“I’m fine with it! Truly! No, I’d like it!”

“I would not be.”

Though I feel sorry for her, there’s always another way to express gratitude. I can’t break my promise to Soeun.

“Whaaa…”

“Please leave. And from now on, don’t come here to wake me. My wife might feel uncomfortable if she sees you. It’s only natural.”

“Th-That’s…”

“Miss.”

With those firm words, Gayoung Jin lets out a sigh. Though she was cheerful just moments ago, my relationship with Soeun seems to have changed the dynamics completely.

Even though Soeun is only sleeping.

“Alright… I understand.”

In the end, Gayoung Jin slouches and trudges out of the room, her head bent in dejection.

Click- Thud.

The door closes. Not long after, a faint, sobbing sound begins to emanate from behind the door.

“Huuh, hoooh, huhh…”

Heart-wrenching as it may be, I mustn’t intervene.

I need to decisively sever any ties that could lead to friction between Hong Ryun, Soeun, and Gayoung Jin. If I let things drag on, there will be conflict, and I can’t allow that.

And the same goes for Hong Ryun. Now that I’ve reunited with Soeun, I intend to firmly reject any affections from her. This isn’t an option—it’s an absolute necessity.

– You cold-blooded brute! How dare you ignite feelings in these fragile young girls and then leave them hanging!

Woo-yong Jin criticizes me from somewhere nearby.

‘When did I ever throw her any flirtatious glances? How could I have ended up in such a situation?’

– Tsk, tsk. You should just be a promiscuous hero! If you took three wives and seven concubines, all your problems would be solved!

‘…Stop it. Why do you keep talking about that?’

As if doing so would change my heart in the slightest.

“Sniff, sniff…”

“…”

Plump, plump…

With muffled sobs, Gayoung Jin walks away. I’m left pondering what I can do to ease her hurt feelings.

“Mm… Master…?”

“Dear, have you awakened?”

Soeun rubs her eyes sleepily as she wakes up.

She gazes at me blankly for a moment before suddenly turning red and gasping.

“Ah…! I haven’t even washed yet!”

Then she covers her face with both hands. Though covering her face won’t hide her natural beauty.

“The basin for washing is over there. Use it.”

“Ah… Thank you, Master…”

Upon my pointing out the basin, Soeun finally notices it and leans over the edge of the bed to wash her face.

After washing off the messiness of sleep, she looks a bit tidier.

“Uh…”

It seems Soeun becomes aware of her situation.

About how last night, we slept together in the same bed for the first time in a decade.

“Y-You, Master.”

“What is it?”

“What are your plans from here?”

Soeun, pressing closer to me, asks this rather serious question.

I have thought about the future somewhat, but roughly…

“We should visit the Namgung family first, shouldn’t we?”

“The Namgung family?”

“We should meet Su-a too…”

“Ah, that’s right. We should definitely let Su-a know about us.”

“And…”

“Is there another reason?”

I gently tap Soeun’s head.

“That’s what I saw in your memories. What’s hidden in the basement of the Namgung family’s home.”

“…”

“I never imagined that the Blood Demon I thought I’d killed would be there.”

“I was also surprised.”

“And I must retrieve my sword that I left there. We’ve got plenty to do at the Namgung family’s mansion.”

Soeun nods in agreement at my words.

“Yeah… That’s true. We must visit the Namgung family. But…”

At the same time, something seems to be bothering her.

“Are you planning to… return?”

“…”

I know what that ‘return’ implies.

But it’s something I’d rather not think about.

“Do you mean a return to the role of the clan head?”

“When Bin Namgung died, the role of clan head was left vacant. There are still members of the Namgung family, but now that your name is cleared, you’re the most suitable person to be the clan head. They wouldn’t dare stop you if they had any sense.”

“That…”

“It’s not coercion! I was just wondering if it’s something you’ve considered…”

“This position doesn’t suit me.”

“Um? Does that mean…?”

“I’m tired. All that nonsense about being the greatest martial artist or whatever… it just bores me now. You’ve seen my past—you understand, right?”

“Ah… Yes, that’s true.”

“It’s not certain yet. I don’t know what Su-a’s intentions are. If she asks me to take the role again, then perhaps I’ll return as clan head. But if she doesn’t, there’s no reason I need to return to the complicated life of the Namgung family.”

Additionally, this is something I can’t say aloud to Soeun…

I don’t wish to reconnect with the Namgung clan anymore. I’d hoped they would at least recognize my innocence.

But they betrayed my trust without mercy. While I have no intention of revenge, I just don’t want anything to do with them.

Let them figure it out themselves. Whether the Namgung family, now without their main pillar, can continue to function properly remains to be seen.

– Hmm, I thought you’d have some attachment to your clan, but you’ve made quite a firm decision.

“It’s just that my attachment has turned bitter.”

– True, the Namgung family will never truly die out. They might decline somewhat, but this is the Namgung family we’re talking about.

“The great old tree may stand through even a typhoon. The Namgung family, though weakened, is still strong. Still, they must face the consequences of their own actions.”

– Well done. You’ve thought it over carefully.

/body

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