Chapter 22. The Butler’s Refusal
Humans often describe the moment their reason snaps with a simple “click.”
The instant you hear those words, your reason just—click—breaks.
Your reason snaps under unbearable anger.
Like that.
Come to think of it, the book in his hand also fell with a dull thud. The book lying sprawled across the table oddly resembled his own severed composure.
“Will you kiss me?”
Seo-hyo said it.
With an innocent, clear, and utterly serious face.
It had to be a joke. Where did she even learn something like that? Cha-eon suppressed his racing heart and tried to think rationally.
Where else?
A certain person immediately came to mind—the only one capable of shaking Seo-hyo with flashy words and chaotic behavior.
Ah-hee. That shameless “festival goddess.”
Don’t take it seriously.
Whatever Ah-hee said to coax her, Seo-hyo had clearly just fallen for her friend’s prank.
So don’t get worked up over something like this.
Cha-eon quietly warned his foolishly pounding heart.
“Cha-eon…?”
Seo-hyo tilted her head, watching him carefully—the first victim of the “joke.” And even that small gesture made his chest ache. Heat rushed up uncontrollably.
This is driving me insane.
At this point, it went beyond a simple prank. Maybe Ah-hee was trying to manipulate Seo-hyo just to get rid of him—the one who always ruined the mood.
That festival goddess might seem clueless, but in strange ways, her instincts were sharp.
She’d smile innocently while pinpointing his weakness.
Oh? So your weakness is Seo-hyo? Then I’ll use her to strike your heart directly.
Wow. Congratulations.
Ah-hee’s attack has succeeded.
If that really was her intention, it hit perfectly. Just hearing the words “kiss me” was enough to dry out Cha-eon’s lips.
Get a grip. Don’t fall for it too.
He forced himself to act calm.
Pretended like he’d simply dropped the book out of surprise. Slowly picking it up, he brushed off nonexistent dust.
“Let’s try kissing.”
Thud.
All that effort to act was useless. The book slipped from his hand again.
It was a blessing that Ah-hee and her group weren’t home. If they had been there…
If anyone else had overheard Seo-hyo—
Calm down, Cha-eon.
You haven’t lived with this lady for just a day or two. You already know how to counter this.
Don’t panic—push back harder.
She’ll get flustered and retreat.
“That would be difficult, my lady.”
In a real situation, a kiss would be nothing. Once the reins were off, things wouldn’t stop halfway.
That’s exactly why he had to restrain himself.
He knew his limits.
Dragging Seo-hyo down to that point—even by accident—was something he had to avoid.
“You asked me to kiss you.”
Cha-eon stared straight at her.
Her fervent gaze nearly made him cough, but he barely held it in.
“Didn’t I tell you before?”
He deliberately lowered his voice, making it colder—more dangerous.
“Once I start… I have no intention of stopping midway.”
Seo-hyo’s pupils slowly widened.
“I won’t stop at just a kiss.”
Her large eyes trembled even more.
Good. It worked again.
He almost felt proud—though it stung a little how reliably this tactic worked every time.
“Wow.”
He flinched.
That wasn’t the reaction he expected.
Instead of blushing or running away—
“Wooow.”
She sounded… impressed.
“Woooow!”
“That’s not something you ‘wow’ at.”
His expression darkened.
“Do you even understand what I just said?”
“That’s… amazing…”
“…Be honest. Did Ah-hee make you drink something strange?”
There was no other explanation.
Why wasn’t she running away?
Why—why—why?!
“She didn’t give me anything weird.”
“Then why—”
“She just told me to marry you.”
Cha-eon went silent.
Completely speechless.
What could he possibly say to that?
“She pointed out a few important things. But marriage felt too sudden… so she told me to try kissing first.”
Cha-eon closed his eyes.
He rubbed his temples, pressing firmly.
Now he understood what it meant to feel your head throb.
They say a frog can die from a stone thrown in jest.
That was exactly his situation.
Ah-hee, who acted without thinking.
Seo-hyo, who had no idea of the consequences.
The two of them were playing him like a toy.
“So… the kiss is just to confirm something?”
He let out a dry laugh.
Knowing the full story made everything feel hollow.
He had gotten worked up… expected something… and then cooled off.
Again.
“What is there to confirm? If there’s no attraction to begin with, what could a kiss possibly prove?”
If anything, it would only create discomfort.
“Let’s stop here. If your goal was to surprise me, then congratulations—you’ve succeeded.”
“…What if there is?”
Seo-hyo asked quietly.
And of course, Cha-eon didn’t miss it.
“What if there is attraction?”
“…Then…”
“Would it be okay?”
Her dark, berry-like eyes locked onto him.
His entire world flipped upside down.
Like a small boat tossed in a stormy sea, he was swept away. His breath tightened.
What was she—
Cha-eon stood up, hiding his trembling hands behind his back.
Her gaze followed him.
“I refuse.”
He didn’t wait for a reply and left immediately.
He tried to walk at a normal pace, but it probably looked like he was fleeing.
Until now, Seo-hyo had been the one avoiding him.
But starting today…
It felt like that would reverse.
And as everyone knows—
Bad premonitions always come true.
***
He refused.
Cha-eon refused to kiss her.
And then he ran away like he’d heard something outrageous—without even looking back.
Call it arrogance if you want.
Even if it was baseless confidence, she had no excuse.
Seo-hyo had never imagined being rejected by her own butler.
She had only worried about when and how to ask—not that she’d be outright turned down.
It was humiliating.
Why hadn’t she thought of this possibility?
Did she really believe he’d agree as long as she asked politely?
…Honestly, yes.
She buried her face in her hands.
She wanted to turn back time.
Was it wrong to say it like that? Or was her approach flawed?
Cha-eon had looked genuinely angry.
Had she really done something that wrong?
She replayed everything—
His words.
His gaze.
Ah-hee’s advice.
Her own feelings.
And then something strange happened.
The more she thought about it…
The more annoyed she became.
He didn’t have to reject me so coldly.
Who was it that had been stirring up her feelings in the first place?
And another strange thing—
She couldn’t give up.
Once she started thinking about it, her curiosity spiraled out of control.
She wanted to see it through.
Now she truly needed to confirm it.
She really wanted to.
“Cha-eon!”
And so, Seo-hyo cast aside her shame and conscience.
The only thing that mattered was confirmation.
Just one kiss.
“Good morning! I already collected all the laundry.”
Cha-eon eyed her suspiciously as she beamed at him.
“You’re up early.”
“Yep! As soon as the sun came up.”
“…Why are you like this? It’s unsettling.”
“There’s nothing scary about it. You always nag—well, wanted me to wake up early and work hard.”
His gaze swept over the neatly folded laundry.
It was perfectly arranged—she’d even ironed it.
“…Well done.”
“Right? I did well, didn’t I?”
She stepped closer, clearly expecting praise.
“What are you doing?”
“Give me a reward.”
“A reward? For what?”
“You should encourage a reformed lady. If you praise me now, I’ll stay motivated.”
“…I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
He turned toward the kitchen.
Seo-hyo quickly blocked his way.
“Give me a reward. Just once.”
“There’s no such thing as a reward you demand like this.”
“Your lips. Okay?”
Cha-eon staggered slightly.
For a split second, his legs seemed to give out.
Seo-hyo grabbed his arm and shook it.
Letting go of shame really did make anything possible.
Like begging your butler for a kiss.
“Cha-eooon.”
“I refuse.”
“Just once! Can’t you grant it as a wish?”
“My lady.”
Suddenly, he smiled brightly.
But strangely, it felt more dangerous than before.
“It seems you’ve forgotten. You already used up all your luck this year on that ‘young master Ga.’”
Seo-hyo froze.
So that’s why he smiled.
“And you’re still holding a grudge, aren’t you?”
“Of course.”
Still smiling, he gently removed her hand.
“And I won’t kiss someone who calls me ill-tempered.”
“Huh?”
“Absolutely not.”
“…Ah.”
Too late.
The kitchen door shut right in front of her.
Her “reward strategy” had failed.
Standing before the firmly closed door, Seo-hyo burned with determination.
She would succeed.
No matter what.
