The sight of Hayun kneeling in front of you as he tends to the wound on your stomach brings delight to your heart as you try to stop yourself from smiling like an idiot. Putting aside the fact that he's the one that hurt you, the way Hayun attentively treats you is really handsome you just want to squeal in excitement. This feeling is akin to having an idol that you worship all of a sudden noticing your existence.

It should be fine right? You extend your hand to touch his soft hair. After all, Hayun is already in love with me.

You brave yourself and touch the apple of your eyes. At first, the male NPC seems surprised by the sudden contact, but he soon lets down his guard by melting into your touch. At the sight, you naturally become bolder. Your hand goes from his head down to his cheek.

Hayun places his hands on your knees, eyes staring up at you like an innocent child as he leans into your touch. At this point, you are too excited that you did something stupid.

ーyou turn on your sensory setting.

A second later, your hands are on his shoulders. Your lips let out a moan of pain at the throbbing sensation on your stomach, tears pooling in your eyes. Your body trembles and Hayun begins to panic, never before has he seen you in this state.

You quickly turn off the sensory setting before throwing your phone away. Holy, love really can turn someone stupid, huh? You let out a helpless laugh as you bury your face in the crook of his neck. The man is obviously confused but he didn't question you. You take a sniff, knowing that you can't smell anything right now but earlier, you can smell the aquatic fresh scent of cypress, vetiver, and yuzu faintly coming out from Hayun.

You promise yourself that once your injuries are fine, you're going to bury yourself in Hayun's scent.

"Sweetheart, I'm very happy," he hums, circling his arms around your waist. "Because there is a permanent scar on you and it was made by me."

『60%ー>61%』

You didn't answer, merely smile as you also don't know what to say. You recall a few minutes ago; you had a conversation with Hayun, that while he did fall in love with you, you refused to die peacefully until his love meter is higher than 89% and Hayun took this as a challenge to rise your love meter. He also told you that he won't kill you until you truly are in love with him. Ah, how romantic is that? Your Hayun is just too cool for you to handle.

After a while, the conversation then changes to "Helios and Essen." You expect that Hayun would get jealous and although he did a little, he also told you that he doesn't mind because he's just reaping what he sow right now.

"No matter how many men you have on your side, I'm still your number one right?" he smiled with that cheeky look on his face.

"Of course," you nodded.

Then the male NPC told you while he doesn't mind Helios, he can't stand Essen. Hayun begrudgingly told you how that manipulative man used his character setting against him to make Hayun agree to his request.

"I don't like him. Don't even talk to him, (Y/n)."

You smiled helplessly. If Hayun had asked you to pick the stars, you would have used every connection you have to make that possible, but this? You can't compromise. First of all, Essen is innocent. Second, you had given him hope. Lastly, you don't want a second Malyshki to appear and dirtied your Hayun again. The only way to protect Hayun without causing any physical harm is to treat your harem fairly, lest they might blacken and take revenge on Hayun.

"I'm sorry, I can't," you answered.

The male NPC pouted. "You can't or you won't?"

"If I do as you said, then Helios and Essen might gang up on you out of anger, you know? They might hurt you."

Hayun chuckled. "Well, such a thing isn't uncommon here but I'm stronger so I'll be fine."

"Don't talk big Hayun," you warn him. "Iー I don't think I can stay sane if something happens to you again."

If Hayun notices the word "again," he doesn't question it, opting to obey your words this time.

Snapping out of your thought, you finally notice how the sky has become brighter and you quickly apologize to Hayun, telling him that you have to log out now. The man nods obediently, watching you as you glitch away.

He then frowns at the bitter feeling he's having.

You put aside your VR headset and walk out of your bedroom feeling tired and sluggish. After all, you did just stay up all night in the virtual world. You notice that the hallway is clean and heavily decorated and remember right away that the banquet is tomorrow night, and today, you were given permission by your first brother that you can shop for your clothes with your new little sister.

You smile, thinking how much of a blessing that girl's existence is, and the fun part? You can see your second brother's ugly face as if he had just swallowed very bitter medicines at the news.

You walk down the stairs, bumping into your fourth brother who's about to go up. 

"What a surprise," you say. "Usually you would only be up when the sun already rises."

"The pot calling the kettle black," he smirks.

"Jokes aside, did you party all night again, brother?" There's a pungent smell of alcohol coming from him, and there's also something red at the edge of his lips.

Translation: since father is back at home, it would be fun to see you getting smack by his belt like before.

He doesn't answer but instead questions you back. "Let me guess, you're playing games all night again?"

Translation: dare to threaten me, don't you know second brother would do worse to you?

There is a moment of silence and the two of you had a tacit agreement not to say a word about this as the two of you part. You head to the kitchen to search for food and are surprised to see your soon-to-be stepmother standing there, drinking a glass of water. She flinches upon seeing you.

You ignore her and see a bowl of yogurt with fruits in the fridge. You don't know whose it is but you doubt anyone in this house would murder you over stealing some food.

"I made that for my daughter," that woman points out.

So what if it's for that little rat? She and this woman is just an outsider anyway. A hint of bitterness and envy fills your heart as you smile tauntingly, taking a bite of it. 

"Does it taste good?"

"Sour, but the fruits are sweet so it's fine," you wonder why isn't she mad. "Why are you smiling?"

"Because you eat it. Isn't that indirectly saying that you accept me as your new mom?"

You almost spit out the yogurt right away at her words. You didn't expect that. How cunning, you are about to avert your eyes away until you notice something.

That, at the realization, you smile in schadenfreude for your father.

"Your red lipstick," you point at your lips. "It smeared."

The woman instantly loses her smile.

With an empty bowl of yogurt on your bed, you laugh wholeheartedly at the new knowledge you gain. The thought of spilling that woman's secret is tempting, but by the look of it, this is more than just a simple scandal.

Ah, ah, ah, you cover your smile with the back of your hand, your eyes glimmering in mischievousness. I wonder what kind of look that old man would show once he found out about this.

You take a deep breath to calm down your excitement, feeling a little dizzy from laughing too much. The door to your room then is knocked on twice and the one who comes inside is your sister, all dressed up.

"Why aren't you ready yet?"

You are about to answer when you see your second brother behind her. "First brother already started the car. Fifteen minutes. Or else, we will leave you behind."

Needless to say, you finish at the speed of lightning.

At the mall, you're like a little kid, wandering left and right, jumping up and down. Sure enough, going out in the real world feels different than going out in the virtual world. You're so excited it gets to the point you had to hold hands with your second brother lest you might get lost. You giggle, swinging your hands.

Perhaps it is because you never confirmed who's the one that changed your medicines, but you really, really hope that it isn't any of your brothers and instead, it was the doing of that old man. That's why you can still laugh without care like this while being by your brother's side, because you refuse to believe that it was their doing.

ーbut of course, that doesn't mean that your plan to leave that house is thrown away or anything.

Even if they are not the ones that tampered with the medicines, that doesn't mean that they are not the ones that held you captive in that house, sedated you whenever you don't listen to them, and belittled you for your gender. As much as you love them, you're not stupid.

"You should try these clothes!" Your sister excitedly points to a very beautiful sleeveless dark flowery dress that catches her attention.

"Why are you telling me to wear the dress that you like?" You raise an eyebrow in amusement. "If you like it then wear it yourself."

She looks down in shame. "Buー But I don't think I would suit those elegant-looking dresses very much. I would definitely look like a minor who's secretly trying on her mother's dress if I wore them."

You nod in agreement. "Indeed. You would look like a cheap prostitute if you wear them."

You know that she's about to get angry when she opens her mouth so you quickly cup her cheeks.

"But since this is your banquet and I get to go out thanks to you," you smile, caressing her cheeks with your thumbs. "I promise you I will turn you into a high-ranking courtesan with that dress."

The girl is speechless.

sister: should i feel offended by this?