#22

I quickly left the dressing room and headed toward the entrance. After confirming the faces of Manager Ahn Siwon and the Tartarus members on the intercom screen, I pressed the open button to unlock the front gate.

From a distance, I could faintly hear the sound of the gate opening. Stepping outside, I watched as they walked across the garden toward the house.

“President! Why are you outside? Please go back in—it’s cold.”

“I was worried. What about Yisol-ssi?”

“I’m right here~.”

Manager Ahn Siwon was startled to see me standing outside the entrance. I patted his shoulder reassuringly and looked for Nam Yisol. At my call, Nam Yisol, who had been standing behind Jung Hosu, trotted over.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes! I wasn’t hurt, and nothing happened.”

“I’m really glad you’re safe.”

Although he reassured me, my eyes darted over him, checking for any signs of injury. I circled around him once, making sure he was unharmed, before finally relaxing and inviting Manager Ahn and Tartarus inside.

“Sorry for keeping you outside in the cold. Please, come in.”

“No worries. Then, excuse us~.”

Polite as ever, Manager Ahn Siwon bowed courteously before stepping inside, with the Tartarus members following behind. As I entered last, Secretary Sung Yoojun, who had just come down from the second floor, addressed us.

“The rooms are ready. Since you must be tired, it would be best to talk tomorrow and get some rest now.”

“He’s right. It’s already 3 a.m. Everyone must be exhausted, so it’s best to rest.”

At the concerned words from Secretary Sung Yoojun and Manager Ahn Siwon, the Tartarus members nodded obediently and headed upstairs. I followed them to make sure they settled into their rooms, but before I could go any further, Secretary Sung Yoojun blocked my path.

“You cannot go, sir.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“You’re extremely tired. It would be best for you to go and rest.”

“But I should at least check if their rooms are alright—”

As I attempted to sidestep him and go upstairs, he somehow anticipated my move and followed closely behind, effortlessly thwarting my plan.

“I have already checked everything. Do you not trust me?”

“No, it’s not that, but still……”

“If you keep being stubborn, I am willing to carry you to your room.”

Wait, hold on. What did I just hear? Stunned, I stared at Secretary Sung Yoojun in disbelief. He then extended both arms forward as if demonstrating how he would lift something and added,

“In a princess carry, no less.”

At the unexpected words, I flinched and took a step back in alarm. The thought of being princess-carried—especially as a grown man in his thirties—was far from appealing. Seeing my strong reaction, Secretary Sung Yoojun smirked, a perfectly fitting expression for him.

“Then I’ll take that as confirmation that you’ll go to your room on your own.”

As frustrating as it was, I had no choice but to give in to his thinly veiled threat. Under his sharp watch, I sulked my way back to my room.

I felt guilty about the hotel’s security being breached and worried for the members, so I wanted to check their rooms myself. But since Secretary Sung Yoojun had already done so, I supposed I didn’t need to worry too much.

Taking off my ivory cardigan, I draped it over the back of a chair and lay down on the bed.

Since the members would likely be staying here for a while, I needed to buy them some necessities. What would they need? As soon as my head hit the pillow, my thoughts grew hazy with drowsiness. The darkness beyond my closed eyelids felt warm and comforting.

I decided that as soon as the Tartarus members woke up tomorrow, I would ask them what they needed. With that final thought, I surrendered to sleep.

***

“President.”

I was sleeping soundly when someone called out to me.

“Sir, wake up.”

A warm hand gently shook my body. It didn’t feel like I had slept much—who was waking me up? With my eyes still closed, I frowned, the lingering fatigue making it difficult to respond. Then, the man waking me up let out a low chuckle.

“Our president is being fussy about waking up? How cute.”

A gentle voice…… I felt like I had heard it before. Who was it? Standing at the border between dream and reality, I was still lost in thought when something soft and damp pressed against different parts of my face.

The sensation, which started on my forehead, trailed down the bridge of my nose before moving to my cheeks and chin.

Each time the soft touch pressed against my skin and pulled away, a faint smacking sound echoed. That sound…… I had heard it before, too. I struggled to pull myself out of my sleepy haze, but my mind was still sluggish.

“Are you really that tired? Well, I suppose a lot happened today. But could you wake up just once for me, sir? I came all the way here because I have something to say to you.”

The man’s voice carried a subtle hint of disappointment. The sensation wandering across my face soon moved down to my left ear.

Smooch, smooch.

That same familiar feeling and sound now brushed against my ear.

“Mmm…… it tickles. Stop……”

Each time the sensation touched my ear and pulled away, it sent a tingling shiver through me. Trying to escape it, I turned my head and buried my left ear into the pillow. But the next moment, I felt a hand gently stroking my right cheek.

……Wait. Hold on.

Who was touching me? I was definitely sleeping alone. There shouldn’t be anyone else in my bedroom.

A sudden chill ran down my spine, and I snapped my eyes open. Turning my head, I finally saw the face of the man touching my cheek.

“Ah, you’re awake. If you didn’t wake up, I was thinking of pinching your cheek. What a shame.”

“……Yisol-ssi?”

What the hell? Why was Nam Yisol in my bedroom?

Stunned, I stared at him as he casually sat on the edge of my bed.

“Yisol-ssi, what exactly are you doing?”

My voice, still rough from sleep, came out lower than usual. In response, Nam Yisol flashed a bright smile.

“Just admiring how you look while sleeping.”

“You’re telling me you entered my room in the middle of the night without permission…… just to watch me sleep?”

I sat up, now facing him directly, and pressed my fingers against my temples to ease the dull ache from my lack of rest. As I applied pressure to my forehead, the pain gradually subsided.

Just as I was about to sigh in relief, Nam Yisol suddenly reached out and grabbed both of my wrists.

“Yisol-ssi.”

I didn’t appreciate having my hands restrained so suddenly. My voice naturally carried an icy edge as I called his name.

“Let go.”

Despite my warning, Nam Yisol only smiled sweetly, his eyes curving into crescent moons. It was clear he had no intention of releasing me. Realizing this, I let out a deep sigh.

Honestly, I could have easily shaken him off if I wanted to, but I was worried about accidentally hurting him. I had hoped he would let go on his own…… but as I tried to shift my wrists, he slid his hands up and intertwined his fingers with mine.

“Yisol-ssi?”

With his fingers now laced tightly around mine, he slowly rubbed my palms with his thumbs.

Even someone like me, who had never really thought much about these things, couldn’t ignore the obvious intent behind his actions.

“President.”

His voice was sultry as he openly attempted to seduce me. Slowly, he licked his lips and leaned in, stopping only when our noses nearly touched. Locking eyes with me, he murmured,

“I’m here to make a deal.”

“A…… deal?”

“Yes. A deal that will satisfy both of us.”

Given the situation, it wasn’t hard to guess what kind of ‘deal’ he was talking about. My expression twisted involuntarily as I looked up at him.

Seeing my reaction, Nam Yisol chuckled in amusement.

“Why that face? Have you already figured out what I’m about to propose?”

“Yisol-ssi. Let go.”

“Don’t be so tense. You might actually enjoy it more than you think. You should look forward to it. Think of it as getting to know me better.”

With those words, he nudged the tip of his nose against mine.

It was a gesture more fitting for a puppy, but in this context, it didn’t feel cute at all.

“So, President. Aren’t you curious? Just how confident must I be to make such a bold offer?”