Jiyeon and Seol-ah's Day Out

The crisp autumn air wrapped around them as Jiyeon and Seol-ah walked through the grand stone gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The palace, a breathtaking blend of towering pagoda-style rooftops and vibrant, multicolored paintwork, stood proudly against the backdrop of Seoul's modern skyline.

Jiyeon's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took in the sight. "It's massive…" she murmured.

Seol-ah, who had visited countless times before, simply smiled. "It's the largest palace of the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395."

Jiyeon turned to her with an impressed look. "Seol-ah-gomo, You sound like a tour guide."

Seol-ah chuckled. "I've lived in Seoul my whole life. It's second nature at this point."

They wandered through the courtyards, past rows of majestic hanok-style buildings, each whispering stories of Korea's royal past. Jiyeon snapped a few pictures, making mental notes to show her dad later.

After exploring for a while, they made their way to Maji, a cozy restaurant tucked within the palace grounds. The warm, wooden interior welcomed them with the comforting scent of simmering broths and fresh herbs.

The waitress brought out their lunch set menu, an elegant spread of traditional Korean vegan dishes. A variety of small plates covered the table—porridge and salad, Maji's signature pancakes, stir-fried burdock with glass noodles, sweet and sour shiitake, lotus leaf-steamed rice, today's soup, cold noodles with pear sauce, and a final touch of herbal tea.

Jiyeon's eyes widened at the sheer variety. "This… looks amazing."

Seol-ah smiled as she picked up her chopsticks. "Try it. It's one of the best vegan meals in the city."

Jiyeon eagerly took a bite of the sweet and sour shiitake, her expression immediately lighting up. "Wow." She chewed thoughtfully before adding, "I don't think I've ever had a vegan meal this good before. I was too accustomed to meat to even notice that even vegan meals can be so appetizing."

Seol-ah took a sip of her tea, watching Jiyeon with quiet amusement. "A change from all the Russian dishes, I suppose?"

Jiyeon laughed. "Definitely. No offense to borscht and pelmeni, but this? This is next level."

They ate at a relaxed pace, savoring the food and the peaceful ambiance of the restaurant.

As they moved through the meal, Seol-ah shifted the conversation subtly, her tone casual yet probing. "So, how was life in Moscow?"

Jiyeon, busy munching on her noodles, answered honestly. "It was good. Cold, but good. I had school, friends, and Dad was always busy with work. We lived near the city center, so everything was close by."

Seol-ah nodded. "What about your mom's side of the family? Do you visit them often?"

Jiyeon shook her head. "Not really. We weren't that close. Mom passed away when I was little, and her relatives… well, let's just say they didn't really care much about us."

Seol-ah filed that information away, her expression remaining neutral. "And your dad? How was he as a legal consultant?"

Jiyeon twirled her chopsticks in the cold noodles as she thought. "Busy. Always traveling. But he was good at it. He worked for Egmor Group, so he handled a lot of high-profile cases. Even outside of work, he always seemed to have people relying on him. Every day, we have these strangers come in high-end luxury cars, visit our house to meet my dad. Sometimes, people drop briefcases full of cash and sometimes, they take briefcases full of cash from my dad. I don't know much about this but my dad said that it is an adult world where people do things out of compulsion and I will only understand when I grow up."

Seol-ah tilted her head. "Is that why he moved to Seoul? To get away from all that?"

Jiyeon hesitated, then shrugged. "I'm not sure. He never really explained. One day he just said we were moving, and that was that."

Seol-ah hummed in thought. So Sungjun's decision wasn't something even his own daughter understood… However, didn't Sungjun mention that he moved because of his daughter? Maybe, it is because of the inheritance? Seol-ah wondered whether Sungjun had deeper intentions of moving back to South Korea.

She leaned in slightly, her tone turning more curious. "What about his personal life? Did he… ever date anyone?"

Jiyeon blinked. "Dad? No, never. He was always too busy. Besides, he's the type to hide stuff like that from me." She laughed a little before adding, "I don't even know what kind of woman he likes."

Seol-ah pressed further, her voice gentle. "Would you be okay if he did? You know, found someone new?"

Jiyeon tilted her head, considering it. "I don't think I'd mind. As long as she's nice and makes him happy, why not? In fact, I'm the one who always pushes him to date someone. I worry about who will look after dad once I become independent and leave home to make my own career. I don't want to leave my dad alone."

Seol-ah studied her closely. Not a hint of jealousy or hesitation. Jiyeon truly wanted her father to date and marry someone.

She tried one last angle. "Did he ever talk about his family with you?"

Jiyeon nodded her head firmly "yeah, he always talks about you all, like atleast twice a week. He always checks on your situations and every time, something nice happens to your business or your personal lives. Like four years ago, when Sae-ri-sukmo married, he was quite sad that he couldn't be there to see it in person."

Seol-ah silently smiled, though inwardly, she felt a tinge of frustration. No hidden grudges. No buried family drama. No obvious weaknesses she could exploit.

Jiyeon was open, honest, and completely unaware of any deeper schemes in play.

Seol-ah exhaled quietly. So… if she wanted to get to Sungjun, it wouldn't be through Jiyeon. The girl wasn't the key.

She picked up her tea, taking a slow sip as she came to a conclusion. If there was anything worth uncovering about Sungjun's weakness… it would have to come from the woman he eventually fell for. And it would be even better if that woman was on her side.

By the time they finished lunch, the soft hum of chatter and clinking dishes filled the cozy air of Maji. Seol-ah checked her phone, her neatly manicured fingers scrolling through a few unread messages before glancing up at Jiyeon.

"It's almost 1 p.m.," she said, slipping her phone back into her bag. "We need to pick up Little Seon-ah from the daycare."

Jiyeon blinked. "Daycare?" she echoed as they stepped out of the restaurant and walked toward the parked car.

Seol-ah nodded while unlocking the vehicle. "Yes. Sae-ri drops her off there during the day."

As they settled into the car, Jiyeon buckled her seatbelt and turned to Seol-ah with a frown. "But why? We have so many servants at home. Wouldn't it be safer for Seon-ah to stay at the mansion?"

Seol-ah tapped her fingers against the steering wheel, her lips curving into a thoughtful smirk. This was an opportunity.

"Maybe," she said, her voice casual, "but your Aunt Sae-ri has her reasons."

Jiyeon tilted her head. "Like what?"

Seol-ah sighed, letting the pause linger just long enough for curiosity to sink in.

"Trust," she finally said. "Or rather, the lack of it."

Jiyeon's brows furrowed. "Lack of trust? You mean she doesn't trust the servants?"

Seol-ah chuckled softly, flicking her turn signal as she pulled onto the main road. "Not just the servants." She glanced briefly at Jiyeon before turning her eyes back on the road. "She might not even fully trust her own siblings."

Jiyeon blinked. "Huh? But they're family."

"She's an actress," Seol-ah continued, her tone subtly laced with intrigue. "A great one at that. The thing about people like her is… sometimes, you don't know when they're being real and when they're just putting on a show."

Jiyeon fell silent, her fingers tightening slightly around her bag strap. Her mind replayed memories of her interactions with her aunt. Had there been moments where Sae-ri had been acting instead of being genuine?

As Seol-ah drove, she hid a victorious smile. A seed of doubt—planted without much trouble.