From long ago, there have been countless stories of curiosity leading to disaster. One such story is Pandora’s tale from Greek mythology. A small box that Zeus handed down, saying it was a gift from the gods to humankind. Despite the warning never to open it, Pandora could not resist her curiosity and opened the box.

What came out were calamities that harmed humanity. Greed, resentment, envy, jealousy, and all sorts of negative emotions. Pandora hastily shut the box, but tragically, it was already too late to turn things back. The curse Zeus gave Pandora was nothing else but curiosity.

In this way, curiosity was never a positive emotion for humans. It brought more loss than gain, and rarely did resolving it ever solve anything. Why else would they say, ignorance is bliss. At times, turning away was better than facing the truth.

That was why I always suppressed the desire to know. As a child, I lacked the right; when I grew up, there was nothing good to gain from it; and after my engagement to Kwon Yido, a nameless sense of crisis made me hesitate even more.

What is it that he is hiding from me.

What does he know about me.

What is going on in his head.

Questions without end—questions that only Kwon Yido could answer. I had to ask him directly, and after confirming, I had to hear the whole truth. Even if it was something unpleasant, I knew I could not turn away forever.

Yet I did not have the courage to open that box like Pandora. At first, it was because I lacked the right, but now, it was the unease born of the unknown that prevented me from making any decision. I wanted to simply sink into the comfort Kwon Yido gave me and let myself be carried away by the flowing river.

So I gave myself preparation time under the name of postponement and laid out my own plan. Just a little later, when my mind was steadier, so I could accept reality no matter what his words contained. If it was something that would shatter my current peace, then I needed at least one place to breathe.

“President, could you approve these documents, please.”

It had been half a month since the funeral. Kwon Ijeong’s disappearance was finally closed as an accidental fall. Though no body was found, it was presumed he had been devoured by wild animals. Ordinarily, such news would have stirred the press, but by chance it coincided with Chairman Kwon Byung-uk’s death and was buried.

With the sudden absence of the chairman, Seonho’s side seemed preoccupied with various matters. Before long, Kwon Sangmi would have to rise as chairwoman, followed by restructuring. Perhaps because of this, the once-boisterous talk of Hae-shin Financial Group rarely appeared even at the back of the newspapers now.

“Has the schedule for the launching event been finalized?”

“Yes, it’s nearly wrapped up now.”

In the meantime, all preparations for the launch of ‘Sejin’ had been completed. Though I had joined midway as president, I directly took part in every step, managing even the fine details. At first, I thought it would be just a temporary stay at this company, but when it came to work, I couldn’t do things halfheartedly.

“Um...... President.”

While I was flipping through documents, a staff member cautiously spoke up. When I raised my head for him to continue, he asked with a worried look.

“Are you all right? You’ve seemed very tired lately......”

“Ah.”

I let out a small sound and instinctively touched the corner of my eye. Even that morning, when I saw myself in the mirror, I was startled. Never mind the sunken eyes—overall I looked completely worn out. Lately, it was always like this, but today it must have been worse.

“I’m fine. I just haven’t been sleeping well because I’m nervous about the launch.”

Since I couldn’t tell the real reason, I gave an excuse that sounded plausible. It wasn’t exactly a lie, and it was one of the reasons for my fatigue. The staff member widened his eyes as if my words were unexpected.

“Nervous? Even you, President?”

“......Of course. I’m human too.”

When I smiled gently, the staff member nodded. “True,” he muttered, even playfully winking.

“Still, you always seem so composed. I never would have guessed.”

“Really? Then I’m glad.”

Ha ha, I laughed while scribbling my signature across the papers. It was the same signature I had always used for work, but now it struck me how much it resembled the logo of ‘Sejin.’ Anyone who saw it would surely think I was the one who founded the company.

“President, please get good rest until the event. And make sure you eat properly too.”

I didn’t mention that I ate more than well—that morning and night feasts were laid out for me. I just thanked him for his concern and sent him off with the papers. Click—the door closed, and a heavy silence sank into the president’s office.

“Sleep......”

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the chair’s headrest. My head spun, but sleep would not come. The pounding headache had not left me even for a moment these past days.

“Of course I can’t sleep well.”

Yes, there was no way I could. My long-standing insomnia and nightmares still repeated daily. And now, I had another concern weighing on me.

‘......What are you afraid of, Kwon Yido-ssi.’

That day, when Kwon Yido went into rut. Ironically, even in such a situation, I fell into a deep sleep. Likely because his pheromones were more than enough, and because he was right there beside me. The fatigue built up over the past days must have also played a part.

‘You’re awake?’

The next morning, Kwon Yido greeted me, freshly composed. He gently swept back my hair, told me I could rest more, and gave me the time. Sometime in the night, he must have cleaned everything up, for the semen splattered messily across us was gone without a trace.

‘......Do you remember what happened yesterday?’

The first thing I asked as I looked at his face. Unlike before I fell asleep, he gazed back at me with clear eyes. Then he frowned slightly and replied curtly.

‘Roughly.’

‘Roughly? How much is roughly.......’

‘It’s not that I don’t remember at all.’

It meant he didn’t recall everything. Not a vague dodge, but truly as if very little came to mind. After briefly lowering his gaze, Kwon Yido gave me an apologetic look.

‘If I made any mistake, I apologize.’ 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

It didn’t seem like he was pretending not to know. No matter how skilled he was at controlling his expression, he couldn’t possibly act so unaffected. And so, without asking anything further, I shook my head.

‘......No.’

‘......’

‘You didn’t make any mistake.’

Just, it was complicated. I couldn’t gauge the weight of his words. It felt like I had glimpsed something I shouldn’t have, and was left with a guilty conscience. And in the last look I saw on Kwon Yido’s face, there was an untouchable emotion.

‘That’s a relief.’

It was guilt. Regret, and a fatal weakness. At the end of unfathomable emotions, only after hearing he had made no mistake did he show relief. Holding my hand and kissing the back of it, he looked so peaceful that I couldn’t bring myself to break it.

“What a foolish thing......”

I hadn’t asked so as not to disturb him, and now I couldn’t ask for fear of upsetting him. So this is how fear conquers curiosity. Lately I was realizing again that it also takes courage to face things.

Besides, conversation was always a matter of timing. Having missed the chance that morning, I never found another moment. Setting aside how busy he was, the truth was that I was the one who lacked time. There were countless days we couldn’t even share a meal, so there was no opportunity for a serious talk.

“......It makes no sense anyway.”

I was alive and well, so how could I understand his words. It was an unreal story, far too difficult to grasp at once. And on top of that, the words that followed. Not only unbelievable, but also something I didn’t want to believe.

“......”

I moved the chair with a scrape and looked outside the window. The wide road beyond was quiet, with few cars or people. In the peaceful scene that almost felt like floating, I exhaled a stifled breath and opened and closed my eyes.

***

On my way home from work, I stopped by the certification academy. Work had kept me away, but thanks to my earlier diligence, my perfumery exam was scheduled for the following week. If I blended a perfume matching a seasonal image and passed a simple written test, I would finally obtain the license.

The last lesson had been on a distinctive spicy note with a sharp kick. It wasn’t my taste since it was so strong, but when mixed with oriental ingredients, it could create an exotic expression. Didn’t Kwon Yido’s pheromones also have a trace of something similar. Though I knew it was a ridiculous thought, I found myself thinking of him.

“You’re home early.”

When I returned from the academy, Kwon Yido was there. Though it wasn’t even that early by usual standards, he spoke as if it were nothing. It wasn’t sarcastic, just a plain statement.

“Have you eaten?”

“No, not yet.”

“......Not yet?”

I asked lightly, only to be startled. Even if I had come home earlier than usual, it was still past mealtime. Judging by his changed clothes, he had left work on time, so why hadn’t he eaten yet.

“I was waiting, just in case.”

Kwon Yido answered casually, tilting his head. The faint curl of his lips looked quite pleased.

“Good thing I waited. Let’s eat together.”

“......”

I rubbed the back of my neck, unable to think of any reply. An awkward feeling spread through me. Had he always waited like this on the days I came home late. At that thought, I shook my head.

When I came back after changing, as expected, a lavish meal was set on the table. Maybe because the weather was hot, the dishes were mostly cool, with tangy sauces. There was seafood salad with a sour dressing, lamb chops sprinkled with whole peppercorns, and steamed croaker with soy sauce.

Chewing the crunchy texture of jellyfish, I glanced sideways at Kwon Yido. At home, with his bangs down, his atmosphere softened noticeably. He didn’t look thirty-two at all, and carried an indefinable aura that made his age hard to guess.

“Did you sleep poorly again last night?”

In the middle of the meal, Kwon Yido asked quietly. I swallowed my mouthful and shifted my eyes evasively. My answers were always similar, but each time I hesitated.

“I just tossed and turned a bit.”

As expected, he looked at me like he didn’t believe it. He must have known it wasn’t just a bit. That must be why he clicked his tongue with a frown.

“Then we’ll need to change your sleeping pills.”

‘I have a favor to ask.’

The day of Chairman Kwon Byung-uk’s funeral, I had asked him for two things. One would take some time, and the other was to introduce me to a doctor.

‘I need a doctor who can prescribe sleeping pills.’

The medication I had been taking was running out, so I needed someone to prescribe more. Kim had delivered them before, but now I had to do it myself. It felt awkward to just go to any hospital, so I thought it would be good if Kwon Yido could arrange someone.

‘......Because I can’t depend on your pheromones forever.’

In truth, I had said it half as a protest. If he wanted me to be an independent person, then my insomnia had to be solved another way. Not by falling asleep beside him, but through medication.

‘......If it’s just pills and not counseling, I can bring them to you.’

Though reluctant, Kwon Yido nodded readily. He pressed his lips together as if thinking, then asked in a firm voice.

‘What medication were you taking originally?’

Zolpidem tartrate. That was the drug he promptly brought me the next day. Professor Choi had always prescribed it, and Kim had always delivered it. It was a common sleeping pill, but the problem was that it had no effect on me.

“......Even if I switch, it’ll probably be the same.”

Of course, this wasn’t merely a matter of medication. I had already tried various sleeping pills through Professor Choi. Changing my sleep environment hadn’t worked, and even the counseling he had gently suggested hadn’t shown any effect.

“My insomnia is just too severe.”

“......”

For the first time in my life, I admitted it honestly to someone other than Professor Choi. Maybe that was why a brief silence fell. He probably had nothing he could say.

“......I see.”

Would he tell me to sleep with him instead. That thought proved needless—Kwon Yido dropped his gaze with a resigned expression. He seemed like he had so much to say, yet what came out was a change of subject.

“......Next week is the launch, isn’t it?”

It was an uncharacteristically awkward change of topic. Even so, I feigned ignorance and nodded. Then another question followed.

“Will you still attend the academy until then?”

“Yes, it’ll all finish that week.”

By next week, the busy schedule would settle down. After treating the staff to a company dinner, we would review the progress and stabilize. After that, my late nights would definitely lessen.

“So then......”

I spoke slowly, putting my chopsticks down. Kwon Yido looked at me curiously. Meeting those dark eyes, I felt more conflicted than ever before.

“How about having a meal together that weekend?”

“A meal?”

He tilted his head, as if to say, isn’t this a meal. I gave a faint smile and moved my lips deliberately.

“We’ve never gone out to eat before.”

The only times we’d eaten outside the house were at our engagement and at the funeral. And even then, they weren’t meals just between the two of us, so it hardly counted as dining out.

“I’d like to properly treat you.”

If he said no, I planned to drop it cleanly. I only wanted to prepare properly for an important occasion; it didn’t matter if we stayed home. It might even be easier to talk that way.

“I’ll take care of the restaurant......”

“......”

“All you have to do is show up, Kwon Yido-ssi.”

I deliberately said it playfully, even winking as if asking him on a date. Should I call it a relief—Kwon Yido chuckled, not unpleasantly.

“Then I’ll look forward to it. Our first dinner out.”

His voice was warm. My invitation must not have been uncomfortable for him. If anything, it seemed like he actually welcomed it.

“Is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?”

“No, anything you like, Jung Sejin-ssi.”

He answered lightly, with a pleased expression. To anyone else, it might have looked blank, but I could tell from all the time I’d spent with him. Kwon Yido truly was looking forward to that day.

“If you’re busy, just say. I can handle the reservation.”

“......Then it wouldn’t be me treating you.”

It felt like a stone weighed down on my chest. He smiled vaguely, without even knowing why I was asking him to dinner.

“I’ll reserve somewhere I’ve been before.”

The restaurant—it would be best to book it entirely.

I organized the plan in my head and forced a calm smile. The things I needed to ask, the truths I needed to confirm. And all the countless questions that had slipped away with missed timing.

‘I followed you into death.’

What exactly lies inside the box he handed me. If I open it, will I be able not to regret it. If what’s inside is negative, then may the last thing ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) remaining at least be hope. Knowing full well it was a vain wish, I still desperately longed for it.