Try Living Well Without Me

“Eeep!”

Kwang-!

No matter how Byul Rak tried to twist his body to escape, Hong Ryun countered his movements by wrapping her legs around his torso.

Amidst all this, the softest parts of the two bodies were intertwining messily.

This was an almost instinctual act, a coupling of flesh.

Though Byul Rak had lost much of his primal instincts, Hong Ryun’s seductive allure was potent enough to reignite even the faintest ember of his desires.

Byul Rak was forcibly wriggling his tongue tenfold.

Unaware that a woman was watching him from afar, consumed entirely by Hong Ryun, this was a disaster.

“……”

Yu So-eun’s legs went limp, and she collapsed onto the dirt ground.

A sorrowful swallow traveled down her throat.

‘My lord… what on earth are you doing?’

Though she questioned herself, unable to believe the reality before her eyes…

The sticky, titillating spectacle was too explicit to deny.

Yu So-eun could not ignore the fact that her husband, whom she believed they had reunited with, was swapping saliva with someone else.

“Ngkk…”

Misinterpreting Yu So-eun’s cry of protest as a moan of pleasure, Byul Rak continued to groan.

“Ugh, ah, Lord… L-lord….”

Though her voice was drowned out by Hong Ryun’s fervent cries.

‘What is this? When did she come?’

Since Yu So-eun was directly opposite Hong Ryun, the latter could sense her presence despite focusing her energy entirely on Byul Rak.

‘Hmm, an annoying woman. Well, let’s take this chance to make it clear—I’m the legitimate wife.’

“Haa… Lady Jade. Do you like this? Your body is trembling ever so slightly.”

“Ry, Ryun… Please, stop this…”

“I can’t! How can I let go of such a great opportunity…!”

Unabashed, Hong Ryun wrapped her legs tightly around Byul Rak, changing their posture dramatically.

It was startling enough for Yu So-eun, watching from the side, to gasp.

‘She needs to stop…’

Witnessing Hong Ryun envelop Byul Rak as if trying to consume him, Yu So-eun trembled.

What had initially been just a message to call him for dinner had escalated into this shocking scene.

When had they reached this point? Up till the moment she saw the Qing Guang Baojian, they hadn’t been this intimate. Could they have truly gone that far already outside?

Yu So-eun feared the answer.

Naturally, she wanted to intervene, to stop their affair.

But…

‘Could I truly intervene in their relationship?’

A despairing thought struck her. She was his wife, yet she couldn’t bring herself to utter a word against his infidelity.

This was reality. Her conscience screamed that she should feel fortunate for allowing their relationship to continue.

For whatever reasons, Hong Ryun had been unfalteringly loyal to Byul Rak from start to finish.

‘Unlike myself.’

“Oooh…”

She had thought she had found a way out, hoping she had found light amidst her troubles, only to find that the light was another darkness.

Yu So-eun found herself sinking back into deep regret, forgetting that she had once thought she had moved beyond it.

Had she simply trusted him when no one else did, she might have been able to confidently question his behavior now.

Her current situation screamed otherwise, demanding that she be grateful that their relationship still progressed.

The pitiful truth left Yu So-eun feeling wretched.

Knowing full well she was part of the reason for this, her self-blame was sharp and cutting.

Her thoughts always circled back to self-condemnation. She hated and scorned her past self, drowning in a cycle of regret.

“Huhk, huk, hhheee…”

“Haa… Lord Jade… It feels wonderful…!”

“Ah, it’s enough… Stop this foolishness already!”

To someone, it was a tragedy, to someone else, a comedy, and to another, an awkward evening. And thus, the day declined.

*

Thud.

Thudthud.

Squish.

This was troublesome.

Rather, it was extremely, overwhelmingly troublesome.

After the incident with Hong Ryun, I was utterly flabbergasted. I hadn’t anticipated such direct actions from her.

And then I was shocked again by the fact that I had subconsciously enjoyed that kiss. It shouldn’t have happened—there’s already a rightful wife, and there shouldn’t have been any relations with another woman!

However, the biggest discomfort of all came when…

– Hohoho! If only someone brought sweets, we’d munch on them while enjoying the show. What a pity!

‘Would you stop talking nonsense and help me instead?’

– Hahaha! Just enjoy it! When you can’t avoid something, you may as well embrace it!

Here at the dinner table, the point of trouble was this: Hong Ryun was stealthily touching my thigh under the table.

Or rather, my abdomen. Thankfully, her hands stayed in relatively discreet areas, but this still shouldn’t be happening.

If only no one else was here, I would have stopped her immediately.

“So, do you know what I did then? Sir? I just snapped all his fingers off that worthless fellow….”

Jin Gayoung was happily chatting away over dinner across from me while Jade Flower silently munched on her vegetable dishes in a corner.

And to my left sat Yu So-eun, while Hong Ryun was to my right.

Under the table Hong Ryun was subtly molesting me—very sneakily so that only I could feel it.

Cold sweat ran down the back of my neck. I was deeply uncomfortable, yet Jin Woo-yong seemed disturbingly calm, which only irritated me further.

– Heeheehee, it’s obvious you’re enjoying yourself despite yourself.

‘Enjoying?! That’s catastrophic!’

– Hoho? So the kiss earlier then? Why didn’t you stop it? Ah, our son-in-law turns out to be quite lewd?

‘What?’

– Hahahaha! Just admit it already. Could you not have pushed her away if you didn’t secretly desire it? Your inner thoughts have all come to light.

‘That’s because… If I used force, Hong Ryun would’ve been hurt!’

– Tsktsk, how bothersome. Just declare it openly then: ‘Libertine Hero’!

I abandoned any further attempt at conversation when faced with Jin Woo-yong’s wholly unserious demeanor.

This old man was absolutely no help, indulging only in pointless jests.

Slither.

…Ugh, still, I need to find a way out soon. What should I do? The stimulation is growing more intense.

My entire body feels electrified, as if it’s been struck by lightning. I’m becoming addicted.

– See, you like it, don’t you?

‘Don’t speak nonsense!!’

“…Sir, are you listening?”

“Uh, uh-huh? Y-yes, every word from the beginning.”

“Is that so? Anyway, the guy ended up….”

Damn, I can’t concentrate on the conversation. And yet I can’t yell something like ‘Stop this lewd behavior!’ in such a situation, making it extremely awkward.

– Lian, please stop this… Are you trying to make me angry?

And I sent her a telepathic message, begging her to regain her senses…

– Angry? Try scaring me if you can. Though, I am merely ‘dining’ right now.

– Is this really dining?

– Isn’t it? I’m tasting you with my hands, aren’t I? If you feel wronged, you could always eat me right back.

– ……

Something feels illogical, but I can’t argue. Damn it all.

Gnaw, gnaw.

While I was in this predicament, Yu So-eun on my left silently gnawed on a piece of meat.

Her behavior felt… off.

It was as if she was under a heavy pressure, concentrating only on her meal without saying a word. It felt strange.

Looking closer, it isn’t just anger. It’s complex, a restlessness that makes her heart uneasy. She looks even more troubled than I do.

I considered speaking to her, but the secret actions of Hong Ryun beside me made me hesitate. What if Yu So-eun turned her head and saw this?

So the dinner, which felt like sitting on thorns, finally came to an end.

I barely managed to escape from the hellish dining hall, knowing that if the meal had gone on for half an hour more, Hong Ryun’s wandering hand might have descended to dangerous places.

“Hmph… Tomorrow, I must seriously talk to her.”

I have no intention of letting this go unchecked. Though today I had to endure it since others were present, I must reprimand her harshly when we’re alone tomorrow.

– Libido Hero! Libido Hero!

That old man and I clearly have different philosophies, so I’ll ignore him. How can I possibly have another woman while having a legitimate wife?

Squeak.

I entered my room, lying down in exhaustion from this taxing day.

My heart still races, not out of excitement but from fear and tension. Just how anxious I was it would be discovered.

Hong Ryun had even telepathically hinted at physical contact with her foot during the meal. This can be excused as a one-time joke today. No more.

With this strong resolve, as I was about to sleep…

Knock knock.

Half expecting Hong Ryun, I projected my awareness outward. It wasn’t her. A much weaker, delicate, frail energy emanated from the door.

Among those who could enter my quarters, there’s only one with such a weak presence.

“Lady?”

“Lord… Are you… asleep already..?”

Yu So-eun.

Since she hadn’t spoken a word during dinner, I secretly worried that she might have some pressing concerns.

If so, I should listen. I replied gently.

“No, I was just about to rest.”

“O-oh. T-then…”

She paused for a moment before…

Creak.

She opened the door to my bedroom where I was lying and said…

“Since we… a-are husband and wife… shouldn’t we s-sleep t-together…?”

She voiced her cautious request and slowly walked inside.

Clad in barely half-clothed sleep attire.

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