Choi Family

A few days later, Rion contacted me, asking to meet at the garden in Yeonghwa Estate.

It was nearing sunset when I arrived, and the golden glow of the sky painted the garden in hues of orange and pink. A soft breeze rustled through the perfectly trimmed hedges, carrying the scent of blooming roses and lavender. The fountain in the center glistened under the fading sunlight, the gentle trickle of water blending with the distant chirping of birds.

Rion stood by the fountain, dressed in a crisp white shirt and a tailored navy coat. He looked different, more serious than usual, as if his mind was occupied by something heavy. His usual playful smirk was missing, replaced by an expression I couldn't quite read.

As I walked closer, he turned, his gaze softening when he saw me.

"You came," he said, a hint of relief in his voice.

I nodded, feeling my heart pound slightly. "You said you wanted to talk."

He exhaled and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Yeah… I did."

There was a pause, one that felt longer than it should have. The silence between us was filled with unspoken words, lingering feelings neither of us had confronted before.

Finally, he spoke.

"Hyorin… there's something I need to tell you." His voice was steady, but I could see the way his hands slightly clenched by his sides. "From the moment I first saw you… in Paris… I knew."

Paris.

The name alone sent a ripple through me, and I stiffened slightly.

"I knew I had fallen for you," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "Even then, even before I knew your name, before I knew who you really were. There was something about you that drew me in. And when I saw you again at Amélie's birthday, I knew I had to get close to you."

Paris.

That night flashed through my mind like a distant dream. The city lights, the laughter, the warmth of the moment I had shared with someone else.

Mr. Yi.

The man I had been searching for.

The moment Rion said the word "Paris," my heart clenched. The emotions I had buried for so long began to resurface, colliding with the present.

He kept talking, his words filled with sincerity, with emotions I could feel but couldn't fully embrace. He was kind, patient, and gentle, everything I knew I should want in a partner. And yet, my mind was drifting somewhere else.

My thoughts were a mess.

Marriage.

Duty.

Love.

What did I really want? Who did I really want?

The weight of it all pressed against my chest until it became unbearable. Before I realized it, my vision blurred with tears.

"Hyorin?" Rion's voice was laced with concern. He took a hesitant step closer.

I quickly wiped my eyes, forcing myself to stay composed, but he had already seen.

"Are you okay?" His tone was gentle, but I could hear the worry in it.

I opened my mouth to answer, to say something, anything, but nothing came out. My throat felt tight, my emotions spiraling in ways I couldn't control.

Rion didn't say anything else. Instead, he did something unexpected.

He stepped forward and pulled me into his arms.

The warmth of his embrace caught me off guard. It was firm yet comforting, as if he wasn't just holding me, but shielding me from the storm inside my heart.

"It's okay," he whispered. "You don't have to say anything. Just let it out."

And I did.

For the first time in a long time, I let my guard down.

I allowed myself to be vulnerable, to feel the confusion, the sadness, the uncertainty.

I wasn't sure if I was crying for him, for Mr. Yi, or for myself.

Maybe it was all of it.

Since that night, I had been trying to avoid Rion. Attending classes without talking to him had been difficult, a constant weight pressing on my chest. But before I could even process my own thoughts, something even more unexpected happened.

That afternoon, as I finished my self-defense class, Rami rushed to me, her expression unreadable.

"Lady Hyorin, someone wants to talk to you," she said urgently. "You need to return to Yeonghwa Estate immediately."

A strange unease settled in my stomach.

Without further questioning, I followed her back to the estate, my mind racing with possibilities. Was it about the rumors of me and Rion? Or something even more serious?

As soon as I stepped inside, I was led to the grand dining hall. The atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with an intensity I couldn't quite place.

There, seated at the long, polished table, was Her Highness, the Queen, along with several others I had never seen before.

Two women, one older and regal, the other younger but carrying the same dignified presence, sat to one side. Across from them, four men, all exuding authority, watched me carefully.

I barely had time to take it all in before the older woman suddenly stood up and walked towards me.

Before I could react, she pulled me into a tight embrace.

"My child," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I've finally found you."

I stiffened.

She pulled away slightly, her wrinkled yet warm eyes studying me with a mixture of sorrow and relief.

"I am your grandmother," she finally said.

My breath caught in my throat.

"Grandmother…?" I repeated in disbelief.

The other members of her group stood up then, their expressions serious.

"We are from the Choi family," one of the men said. "Your mother's family."

I could only stare. My mother's family? But I had never heard anything about them before.

"We are here," my grandmother continued, "because we cannot allow history to repeat itself."

Her words sent a chill down my spine.

The younger woman beside her spoke then, her voice firm. "Your mother, our beloved daughter and sister, was forced into marriage. It was not a union of love but of duty, one that ultimately led to her tragic fate."

I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

"We refuse to let the same thing happen to you," one of the men added. "You do not have to accept this marriage agreement. Come home with us, and we will make sure you are safe and free."

I felt my hands clench into fists. They were talking as if my future was already doomed, as if my mother's fate was inevitable for me too.

Before I could say anything, the Queen finally spoke.

Her voice was calm, but there was an undeniable authority behind it. "Hyorin, I understand their concerns, but this is not something to be decided so hastily."

She looked at me then, her sharp gaze pinning me in place.

"I want you to reconsider the situation carefully," she continued. "Before making any final decisions, you must first meet Prince Seungho."

The tension in the room was suffocating.

My grandmother's grip on my hands tightened.

"No," she said firmly. "You don't need to meet him. Come with us now. If you do, we will refuse this marriage on your behalf."

My throat felt dry. My mind was spinning.

The Queen was waiting for my answer.

My grandmother was waiting for my answer.

Everyone was.

And yet, I didn't know what to say.