"Uncle, where did your son go?"
"He's not here, went out on some business."
This uncle of mine never gives a straight answer, unlike the old lady next door. Doesn't he want to explain where his son went, what he's doing, with whom, or where? It's been almost ten days since I left him, renting a place nearby, yet I still keep looking at this building… missing him, curious, wanting to see.
"Not here… what do you mean by that?"
And he ignored my question too. Who does he think he is?
"Here, this is all I have just five thousand in cash. Sorry it's not more."
"Five thousand? That's way too much, but I can't really refuse. I have my grandmother to take care of."
"Oh, so that's why you help the elderly."
"I should be going now. Thank you."
Seeing me ignore his questions feels… good in a strange way. I don't want to stay too long; otherwise, I might start crying. My heart wants to know where Ung-ing is, but knowing might hurt me even more. Missing him like this… it's better to just let things be.
I reached the door, and before I could even touch the handle, I heard a click from outside.
Creak!
…
Ung-ing. His face was tense, staring at me with sharp, piercing eyes.
Bam!! Crash!!
The moment he saw me, he struck right across my chest. If he weren't holding back, he probably would've kicked me straight in the face. His punches were heavy as hell, and I fell on my back, sliding into the room. My uncle didn't intervene; he just stood there, watching like he was enjoying a boxing match. Unlike his handsome but terrifying son, who now jumped on me without mercy.
Smash! Thud!
I couldn't fight back, only raised my arms to block the blows, like a helpless elephant.
"Ung-ing, stop! He's helping your father, okay?"
But he kept going…
Wham! Wham!
"I don't care what he is! Dad, call the police or the chief—I'm going to make him pay!"
"What?!"
Thud! Thump!
His hoarse voice shouted at his own father, full of anger at me that had been building forever. Do something already!
Thunk!
I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed him, holding him tight even as he struggled, squeezing him like a boa constrictor. I missed him so much, his scent driving me crazy.
"I'm sorry, Ung-ing. I'm so sorry."
"I don't forgive you. You're as awful as that Fian guy same face, same shit."
"I know I'm awful. I'm wrong. But I didn't mean it I love you, Ung-ing. I really do. But I'm poor. I come from the slums, and I have my grandmother to care for. I'm sorry I didn't keep my word."
"Hic…"
"I already told you how much I need you. I told you to love me. Did I ask you to wait until you were rich to love me? You're stupid, you don't understand anything."
Ung-ing sobbed, tears threatening to fall, but he wiped them away. His father still stood there, smiling at both of us as if watching children play, then suddenly spoke:
"Do I need to stay?"
"Yes, you have to stay. You're the witness. Let me… get down on my knees in front of my father, Fahsai. Confess everything you and those twins did with me, and tell me how you'll take responsibility. Tell me… how you'll take responsibility for being with me, for loving me… How will you take responsibility!!"
Someone without a partner wouldn't understand… I just realized too, what it's like to be punished when you make him angry.
"I… I'm really sorry, sir. I lived in the slums across the river, and we got evicted. My grandma's health collapsed around that time, and I desperately needed money. That's when Ming and Kwan came to me and asked me to help make Ung‑ing forget his ex. But because we all thought Ung‑ing hated poor people, I disguised myself as someone rich."
"Oh~ and then you two slept together."
The uncle dragged out his words with the most annoying tone. If he wasn't the father of the guy I love, I'd have already lifted his chin up to make him stop. The dad was infuriating, and the son was nerve‑wracking I kept glancing at his legs, terrified he'd kick me in the neck.
"So how are you planning to take responsibility? This counts as fraud, violation, and emotional damage. If my only son got hurt enough to do something reckless, what would you do then?"
"I don't have any money, sir. My grandma's eighty and just got out of the hospital. I'm already working myself to death every day. I'll do anything you wame just please don't send me to jail. It's just the two of us… if I'm gone, she has no one left."
"Hmmm~"
Why the hell was he dragging out that sound like that? I was so tense I could've pissed myself. And the guy standing guard next to him—his face was so stormy it scared the crap out of me.
Knock, knock, knock
Shit! Don't tell me the police and the sheriff are here… Grandma, help me! I don't want to go to jail.
"Call them over immediately. What's going on… Oh, Ung-ing, have you found your boyfriend? The one who was lost abroad?"
"Yes… I found him."
Shit! What the hell is happening? Ten days gone and now your house has turned into a full-blown party, huh?
"So, Fahsai, what's the plan? Are you here to kneel before me and my father to register our marriage? With my two elder brothers and three witnesses present, a dowry of a hundred million, and the wedding ceremony to be held once the new development across the street is finished?"
No… but I nodded anyway. His gaze was terrifying.
"Oh, I see. Alright then, let's get married."
"Huh…" I gasped quietly. The sheriff showing up so fast wouldn't have been so bad… but he's brought the marriage certificate and the legal consent forms too… way too prepared.
"Hahaha!" His father is still laughing cheerfully—how is he so calm when people are about to get killed?
"Oh~ Looks like someone's lips are busted. What did you do?"
"Oh, he just helped me, that's all. My brave son-in-law."
"Wow, I got myself a handsome, rich, noble son-in-law. Couldn't be luckier!"
Goddammit!
What the hell is this?
Registering a marriage, with legal clauses stating no divorce allowed, and if you do, the fine is a hundred times the dowry… And do I even get a choice? The company owner, the senior police officers, the sheriff… Someone, please tell me I'm dreaming again!
Everyone else had left the room, yet here we were—just the two of us. And why the hell was I still being ordered to kneel at the feet of this beautiful but terrifyingly intimidating person?
"Uh… Ung-ing," I called, gathering my courage. Before I could finish, it shot back at me sharply:
"I'm thirsty."
Damn it… after the intense session earlier, my legs were numb.
"I'll get it for you," I said, wondering what role I was supposed to play this time—was the cold glare from earlier a warning or just post-chaos fatigue?
"Mm."
Beep beep beep—creak
Just as I turned my back, the door clicked open again. More visitors? Stepping out from the kitchen, I saw two handsome guys walking in, heads bowed like guilty prisoners… ah, the twins.
"Here's your water," I handed the bottle to Lord Ung-ing, who had thoroughly exhausted me earlier. I silently prayed his frown would ease soon.
"Kneel all of you!"
"Whoa! Fahsai, how did you get here?" The twins whispered to me, like neighbors gossiping about other tenants.
"Ask your best friend."
"Uh-oh… here comes the wrath of my friend again," one muttered.
"My legs are still numb! I've been kneeling here for hours before you arrived."
"What happened?"
"Marriage registration… with the police and the mayor here."
"Uncle… that's Ung-ing, right?"
"Yeah, probably."
"And there's an extra clause on the marriage certificate, right?"
"You got it, you smart one, Ming-Kwan."
"Not a dog," he muttered.
Three tall men sat in front of the one and only queen on the sofa. One scolding sentence, and the lot of them went silent.
"How long are we going to keep talking?"
"Sorryyy!"
"What the hell did you all do? Do you even realize it?"
"Sorryyy!" At this point, we could only say that one word.
"You all like acting, huh? Fine—play it for the rest of your lives."
"What do you mean, Ung-ing?" Kwan clung to her leg, looking like a dog asking its best friend what to do.
"You're being punished for not telling me. You'll work my job for a month!"
"What?!"
"Take your pick: do it, or stop being my friend," Ung-ing said. The twins shrank in fear.
"Alright."
"As for Fahsai, it's clear what you need to do, right?"
"But my grandma…"
"Your grandmother will move in with me. She'll have care, and your father will be there. Your job is to be a good husband, supervise the construction across the street, and cook for me every day."
"Then what do I do, Ung-ing?"
"Sit, eat, and relax. You've worked hard enough with your husband, friends, and job. Wanting to just be still for a while—is that a problem?"
"No, sir~"
"That's it. Now go before I lose my temper again!" The queen had really descended on us today—ferocious as a wild animal.
"Don't tell me it's because Ung-ing made Fahsai's lips swell and turn green?" Someone dared to ask, and I knew another blow was coming.
"Yep!"
"Gah! Terrifying and savage!"
The instigator ran out of the room, leaving me with the little tiger again.
"Ung-ing, I'll go get grandma…"
"Grandma's already at the house."
"Ung-ing… my lips hurt, I need to fix them…"
"Come sit here… open your mouth."
Had the storm calmed? I wasn't sure. But her voice softened, and the scowl started to fade. I went to grab a compress to clean the blood from my mouth… Sadistic much, Miss? Hit me, then act cute.
"Sorry…"
"…."
"Ung-ing, I'm sorry."
"I know. Shut up!"
"I want to hug… can I?"
"…"
Thwack!
Huh… ugh…
It went quiet, so I pulled him close and held him tightly. Just holding him and running my hand through his hair made him cry, trying to stifle his sobs, his whole body shaking. I'm uneducated, with nothing to offer, and I don't even know how to properly care for something precious—but he made me understand what it means to cherish something important.
"I love you, Ung-ing… don't cry, okay? Thank you for handling everything… I felt so powerless."
"I can do it… I told you I can. You don't need to give me anything but your love and care. I'm a man—I can handle everything else. But taking care of me… my heart… my feelings… that's your job. Remember that, Fahsai."
"Yes… I remember. I love you, Ung-ing."
"…Huh… mmm."
By the time all the chaos settled, we barely had the chance to truly be together. I'm grateful for his strength, for not caring about my poverty, for stepping into my life…
I love you.
…
The Heir, Fahsai, Chahl—pure of heart.
A mysterious prince with a great-grandmother who was the last consort of a crown prince, unrecorded in history, devoted to peace. He had built churches and schools throughout the harsh provinces and had set out to find true love after picking up a bottle of mineral water by the roadside…
"That's your story you told the relatives? Slow down a bit, maybe read some fantasy novels too."
"Can't help it, I wanted to act it out first. Why? You were preparing for piano lessons anyway—the family reunion is coming, Uncle wants to hear Beethoven too."