Chapter 25. If It’s Good, Do It Twice
Daydream-like moments would come at the strangest times—while she was sewing a fallen button back on, or even while brushing her teeth. The moment she had even a sliver of mental space, the memory of kissing Cha-eon would surface without fail.
It was too powerful a memory to forget, even if she tried.
Drip.
Whenever she traced back that hazy memory with unfocused eyes, toothpaste would end up running down her chin.
Seo-hyo stopped wiping the desk midway and fell into another bout of absent-mindedness.
“Is there no god of kissing?”
If there was, she wanted to ask whether this was normal. Did everyone feel like this when they kissed? Did their breath grow short and their whole body go weak just from remembering it?
Would it feel like this even with someone other than Cha-eon?
“There’s no god of kissing… but there is a god of lovemaking.”
She had met him once or twice.
He was nine feet tall, broad-shouldered, and strikingly handsome. If you dressed him in armor and gave him a sword or spear, you’d believe he was a great general guarding the heavens—but in truth, he couldn’t handle weapons at all.
In fact, it almost felt like a waste of his looks.
Or rather… he was a bit ridiculous.
“How old is our little lady this year again?”
Most gods were younger than him, so it wasn’t strange for him to speak casually.
Every time he saw Seo-hyo, he would call her “little lady” and pat her on the shoulder.
Had it been 40 years when they first met, and 110 the second time?
Well, age didn’t matter.
Even if Seo-hyo had been a newborn god just yesterday, he would have laughed heartily and smacked her on the back all the same.
“It’s about time you got going, right? Huh? Heave-ho! Heave-ho!”
“Haha…”
“When’s your birthday, little lady? I’ll get you a very nice erotic painting or a guidebook…”
And then, the goddess of love—his wife—would send a blazing slap his way.
“What do you think you’re doing with a child?!”
The goddess of love was the younger sister of the god of beauty.
Her beauty alone was dazzling enough to overwhelm anyone.
To see someone more beautiful than any flower imaginable swinging a flaming hand was truly a sight to behold.
And Seo-hyo already knew what would happen if she asked those two for advice.
“Oh my, it’s love. Your heart is starting to flutter, Seo-hyo.”
“What are you talking about? This is clearly the beginning of heave-ho.”
“…Stop ruining the mood.”
“I think you’re the one mistaken, dear.”
“It’s love, Seo-hyo. Your first love.”
“Heave-ho! Heave-ho!”
“Just ignore that idiot.”
“Love and heave-ho are one and the same, my dear. Just like we are one.”
“Who said we’re one? We’re clearly standing apart like this.”
“Then… let’s become one right now.”
She didn’t even need to see it to know how it would go.
“Ughhh!”
Seo-hyo shook her head vigorously. That couple wouldn’t be of any help at all.
Meow.
A familiar cat’s cry made her lift her head. The spirit of a striped cat was sitting by the window, swishing its tail.
It had been two days since that unexpectedly intense kiss.
Since then, Cha-eon had started using the spirits in the medicine chest as messengers.
The clever striped cat was used most often.
Seo-hyo gently scratched its head and between its brows.
“Why did you call me?”
Meow.
The cat mimicked chewing something.
“Is it time to eat? Is it already lunchtime?”
Meow.
It nodded.
“Alright, thank you. I’ll put you back.”
After returning it to where it belonged, she went to the room beside the kitchen, where she usually ate with Cha-eon. The moment she stepped in, a delicious aroma greeted her.
A neatly prepared table was already set.
“Eat, and if you want more, just say so.”
Cha-eon said as he poured hot tea. Seo-hyo sat down awkwardly, just as she had that morning.
The butler avoided making eye contact.
This had been going on for two days now. Seo-hyo also felt too embarrassed to act like nothing had happened, so she didn’t bring it up.
Honestly, not making eye contact made things a bit easier.
At least she didn’t feel as awkward staring at him like this.
“Your lips.”
After taking a sip of tea, Cha-eon pointed it out.
“Stop looking.”
“I-I wasn’t looking.”
“If you look one more time, you might burn a hole through them.”
“I wasn’t!”
“And stop licking your lips.”
“I didn’t do that either!”
She raised her voice, claiming he was saying ridiculous things in broad daylight. But inside, her heart pounded like a petty thief caught in the act.
Did he notice? How long did I even look for him to notice? Honestly, he’s too sensitive about useless things.
Grumbling inwardly, she continued eating.
Unlike herself—who might sew buttons in the wrong place—his work was flawless.
Aside from keeping his distance, nothing had changed. His cooking, his ironing—everything remained perfect. It seemed like Cha-eon had already regained his composure.
His lips.
She kept thinking about them.
“Stop daydreaming and eat.”
How cold.
How heartless.
Fuming, Seo-hyo emptied her bowl.
But pointing it out only worked for a moment. The young lady still glanced at the butler’s lips whenever she had the chance. Sometimes she even lightly licked her own lips.
For everyone’s safety, the butler took drastic measures.
He covered half his face with a large handkerchief, masking everything from the bridge of his nose to below his chin.
“That’s too much…”
“This is all because of you. Don’t forget it.”
Seo-hyo puffed her cheeks in displeasure.
Her red lips jutted out.
She couldn’t marry someone else while feeling like this.
That was Seo-hyo’s conclusion.
The problem was that after finally deciding, the other party was putting up an iron wall. After the mask came threats of wearing an even bigger one.
She needed help.
But she couldn’t think of anyone she could properly ask for advice.
She couldn’t ask fellow gods, and even Nanyang from the Yawharu—who had recently recovered—would probably say something similar to that “heave-ho” god.
Though she couldn’t understand why the gentle, willow-like Nanyang overlapped with that ridiculous god in her mind.
Anyway.
After much thought, Seo-hyo headed to a bookstore.
A place that dealt in stolen goods under the sign “Books,” though it also lent out actual books.
After curing the owner’s only son of stomach illness, Seo-hyo had become a valued customer.
“It’s been a while, miss.”
The goat-bearded owner greeted her warmly.
“Hello.”
“Did what you asked about last time get resolved? Did you find the item?”
He meant the hairpin of that young master.
Seo-hyo had asked about stolen goods for the first time then. The owner must have been curious.
She gave a vague smile.
“It already belonged to someone else.”
“I thought as much.”
Of course, he couldn’t have imagined it would be found in her own house. It was too strange a story to tell.
“The one who was looking for it gave up as well.”
“I see.”
“I’m actually here to borrow a real book today.”
The owner brightened and pointed to a shelf filled with new arrivals.
“Perfect timing—we just had a recent return.”
“I’ll take a look.”
“Take your time.”
Seo-hyo politely approached the shelf.
But there were no books of the kind she wanted—just copied novels.
I don’t need novels. I need something practical.
She knew the layout of the store well enough to find anything with her eyes closed.
Still, she lingered out of embarrassment.
Won’t the owner step out for a bit?
Or at least have someone come in?
She moved slowly, picking up random books—like one about growing orchids.
“Ugh, boring.”
After flipping a few pages filled with incomprehensible jargon, she put it back.
Shelf after shelf.
Only after passing four did she finally reach what she was looking for.
“Wow…”
Unlike the plain brown and white covers elsewhere, this shelf was a rainbow of colors.
Pink, peach, soft blue, cherry red.
The titles were equally striking.
Titles that practically wagged their tails, urging her to take them.
[How to Capture a Cold and Distant Gentleman]
[For Ladies in Unrequited Love: How I Became His Lover]
[Eight Colors Aren’t Enough—Become a Nine-Tailed Fox]
“When did the human world become so aggressive…?”
Clicking her tongue, she pulled one out.
It was divided into ten sections like a textbook.
As she skimmed, a section caught her eye:
“Let’s Become a Coy Lady.”
The contents read:
[Praise him outwardly by scolding him.]
“…Huh?”
She didn’t understand.
[Show love by pretending to be angry.]
“What?”
It got even more absurd.
[Stare at him intently, then turn away shyly. Finally, the most important point—trust. Make him doubt you, then wait.]
“…This book is strange.”
She quickly shoved it back.
Among the many books, one line caught her eye.
A clear instruction, as if peering into her situation.
“If it’s good, do it twice.”
She read it quietly.
“Was it good? Do you keep thinking about it? Does it appear in your dreams? Then do it again. Life happens once. Don’t leave regrets. If it’s good, do it twice.”
Simple. Clear.
Exactly what she wanted to hear.
Right. Life only happens once.
Seo-hyo finished reading and glanced at the owner.
She’d spent quite some time—it felt wrong to leave empty-handed.
She grabbed a random decent-looking book and went to the counter. The owner hesitated when writing it down.
“You’re borrowing this…?”
“Yes. Why?”
She checked the title.
Fortunately, it wasn’t anything suspicious—but she understood his reaction.
[Special Cuisine Secrets: Recreating Royal Court Flavors at Home]
“You’re going to cook?”
“…Mm.”
“Since when did you start cooking?”
I might need to leave this neighborhood soon.
Even the bookstore owner knows me too well.
“I’m giving it to Cha-eon.”
“…You’re making him cook royal cuisine now?”
“Just write it down.”
She boldly held her head high.
Back home, when she handed the book to Cha-eon, he said something similar.
“You should know some shame, miss.”
She had none.
What about it?
Ignoring him, she went back to her room.
Her mind was filled with one thought:
If it’s good, do it twice.
Yes, understood.
She resolved firmly.
“Cha-eon.”
Seo-hyo entered his room holding a letter.
He was half-reclined, arms crossed, a book covering his eyes—the one she had borrowed.
Coy lady.
The term came to mind.
“Are you sleeping?”
“I was.”
“But now you’re not?”
“Now I’m not.”
He didn’t move the book.
She continued anyway.
“A letter came from Baek Og River. It’s Lady Mirang’s birthday soon.”
No response.
“Even if we can’t attend, we should send a gift. What should we send?”
She listed options.
Sweets? Jewelry? A storybook?
“Cha-eon, what do you think?”
“Send taffy.”
“…Not that kind of taffy.”
She smacked his shoulder.
“That won’t do.”
“Whether you send lions or soap scraps, I don’t care. Handle it yourself.”
A clean boundary.
Seo-hyo folded the letter.
He still lay there, eyes closed.
Defenseless… would that be too much to say?
His lips.
His lips.
Soft… tempting.
The book said so. This was the moment.
If I try one more time, I’ll know for sure.
She rustled the envelope as an excuse.
“You should leave now, Your Highness.”
He spoke lazily.
“Royal cuisine takes time, so it won’t be ready tonight.”
“Who asked for tonight?”
“The audacity when you gave me that book…”
That mouth.
That irritating, sly mouth.
Seo-hyo glared at his lips.
They looked like peach blossoms—red and inviting.
Peaches were her favorite fruit.
After confirming his eyes were closed, she stopped thinking.
She grabbed his cheeks and pressed her lips to his.
“…Mm?”
He froze.
Only his lips were soft.
Smack.
She sucked his lower lip with a small sound. This time, she was more at ease than before.
Yes, this feeling.
Sweet, tangy, electrifying.
The very thing that had haunted her dreams.
If she tilted her head like this—
But why isn’t he reacting?
Was she the only one enjoying this?
Am I doing something wrong?
Should I stop?
She tried to pull away—
But her wrist was suddenly caught.
The book fell.
In an instant, she was beneath him.
“Ah!”
The real kiss began now.
