Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 396 (Part 3)



396 (Part 3)

“…”

“Do you know that this is a terrible thing to do?”

I kept my mouth shut at the words of the Poison King.

Honestly I didn’t have much to say either.

Knowing to some extent the feelings that Tang So-yeol had for me I was aware that simply keeping her by my side was not a good action.

“…I’m sorry.”

I didn’t offer any excuses regarding this matter.

At my response one of the Poison King’s eyebrows twitched.

“Setting aside the apology Mister has yet to answer me. Will you take our So-yeol or not?”

Was he implying that I should take responsibility for Tang So-yeol right away?

I didn’t know what kind of answer he wanted but his words had inconsistencies.

“I’m sorry to say but as you know I am engaged. I am not in a position to take Miss Tang away…”

I was engaged to Namgung Bia and the fact that Tang So-yeol was a member of a prestigious family was the problem.

Even in a world where the concept of concubines existed who would send the direct daughter of a high-ranking family as a concubine?

The Poison King would surely feel the same way.

“Then if you weren’t engaged you would have taken responsibility.”

“That’s…”

“Can I take that to mean that you cannot take responsibility either?”

“There are many issues with the situation…”

“If the problem is the conversation with the Namgung Clan I can step in to resolve it.”

“…!”

My body flinched at the Poison King’s shocking statement.

That meant he would step in to resolve the engagement with the Namgung Clan.

This would cause a rift between the Namgung Clan and the Tang Clan yet the Poison King was saying he would do it without a care.

If you want it I’ll do at least that much.

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

So what would you do?

I wondered if the Poison King wanted to tie Tang So-yeol and me together that much but…

Even if he said that.

“I’m sorry.”

My answer wouldn’t change now.

Breaking off the engagement with the Namgung Clan would mean ending my relationship with Namgung Bia.

I had no desire to do that.

The Poison King’s face twisted at my response.

The pressure of qi in the room was also becoming somewhat heavy.

“In the end you’re saying you have no intention of taking responsibility.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Or? Are you saying you would dare take our daughter as a concubine?”

“…”

“Be certain. Mister. What do you plan to do with our daughter? I know she has feelings for you but as long as the end is unclear I do not wish for my precious daughter to stay by your side any longer.”

The Poison King’s words were valid.

It was better not to let her stay by my side without taking responsibility for a better future.

“From now on my daughter will be engaged to another family.”

“…!”

My eyes widened at the Poison King’s statement.

Tang So-yeol is getting engaged?

‘Has this changed the future again?’

There were many differences in the future compared to my previous life but for some reason this matter struck me particularly hard.

“…Is that something Miss Tang is aware of?”

“Do you think that matters? As a family my daughter’s opinion is not very important.”

Engagements between families were indeed the right thing.

It was not strange to form relationships with other families to expand each other’s influence.

Moreover Tang So-yeol was the daughter of a prestigious family.

In that regard her value was more than sufficient.

In fact it was strange that there hadn’t been an engagement in my previous life.

“So if that’s your position Mister I hope you will keep your distance from my daughter.”

“…”

At the Poison King’s firm words I felt something swell up inside me.

There was not a single wrong word in what he said.

Why was it so overwhelming?

‘Tang So-yeol getting engaged.’

Was that the problem?

I felt a wave surging within me.

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

There was not a single wrong word.

If I cannot take responsibility it is right to let her go.

If Tang So-yeol wishes to live a different life from my previous life it would be better to let her be engaged to someone else and live a peaceful life.

Rational calculations should have ended the moment the Poison King finished speaking.

Yet for some reason an uncomfortable feeling was tightening around my throat.

“Answer me Mister. Will you do so?”

At the Poison King’s urging my gaze wavered.

Why couldn’t I answer?

Even if Tang So-yeol had feelings for me.

I was in a situation where I couldn’t accept her.

Ironically I thought.

‘…Why do I dislike this?’

I didn’t want to let Tang So-yeol go like that.

‘Crazy.’

It wasn’t just Tang So-yeol.

It was the same for Mu Yong-hee Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bia.

I didn’t want to let go of anyone beside me.

Realizing that made cold sweat flow down my back.

Along with that a clear word flashed through my mind.

‘This is bad.’

It was too late.

The moment I realized this I instinctively felt that it was too late.

I had been trying to ignore it because I didn’t want this.

A chilling energy began to creep over my entire body.

It was not good.

Saying I didn’t want to let anyone go meant that they had become precious to me and that I had developed a weakness.

It was heavy and frightening.

I had hated this feeling and had desperately held it back. Yet with a single word from the Poison King cracks began to form inside me.

“Mister.”

At the Poison King’s urging I turned my gaze. I had to try hard to collect my thoughts.

What did he say?

To let Tang So-yeol go from my side?

What should I answer?

My mind was in chaos.

For now I should ask for a moment…

“I don’t want to.”

Ah.

Despite my confused mind my mouth had already spoken.

After saying it I was surprised and covered my mouth with my hand.

Am I really crazy?

Not just me but the Poison King also seemed surprised his expression quickly turning into a frown.

I messed up.

What should I do to fix this?

Bang-!

Suddenly the door burst open violently and someone entered.

At the unexpected sound I turned my head.

“Really!?”

It was none other than Tang So-yeol whose eyes were even wider than usual.

The red hue on her cheeks and her raised voice were striking.

“Young Master! You really don’t want me!?”

“…You?”

I thought she would come later so how did she suddenly appear?

Even though I had my senses open I hadn’t felt Tang So-yeol’s presence.

“It’s not a lie right? You said you don’t want me?”

For some reason she came closer and grabbed my hand.

I looked at the Poison King feeling flustered at her reaction.

“…!”

I could tell by observing the Poison King’s expression.

His face which had been on the verge of exploding had changed.

The Poison King who had looked at his daughter with a face full of disbelief let out a weary sigh and spoke to Tang So-yeol.

“…I clearly told you not to come in yet.”

Despite the sighing voice of the Poison King Tang So-yeol seemed unfazed her face lit up as if she could fly at any moment.

“Dad! Did you hear? The Young Master said he doesn’t want me to go!”

“…I heard. I heard it very well.”

At Tang So-yeol’s excited words the Poison King rubbed his face.

Seeing that I realized late.

“This is…”

That the current situation was all a play orchestrated by the two of them.