Dirty Switch

“...Hmm. Right.”
Prince Yi Hwang clicked his tongue again, as if to say, There’s always someone like this.
Even though Prince Yi Hwang was technically past the age of forty, he was still considered fairly young. Yet in moments like this, he gave off the exact feeling of having an old grandfather in the room.
Still, asking that… if I liked him.
Joo Taehyun…
Choi Yeonjun had asked. Prince Yi Hwang had asked. Even Joo Taehyun himself had asked.
As if I were some earthbound ghost, I kept getting dragged back to this one topic. And now, I was starting to understand why people kept bringing it up.
But if I wasn’t sure of my feelings—wasn’t that proof it wasn’t real in the first place?
I had been prejudiced, yes, just because Joo Taehyun was a man. But if it were truly love—if I really did like him—shouldn’t I be less confused than this?
“In any case, if you’re not planning to divorce Taehyun, go apologize. Properly.”
“......”
“Don’t tell me I have to explain what I mean by ‘properly apologize’?”
His tone was like someone talking to a hopeless kid who’d never even held hands with someone before.
“I don’t mean literally fall over sobbing. Just tell Taehyun how you really feel.”
“What do you take me for?”
“What do I take you for? A dating idiot, probably.”
“Your Highness!”
“Before you got married, you were swapping partners like clockwork. What have you been doing this whole time?”
Even if none of them were serious, it’s not like I had no experience. But Prince Yi Hwang’s nagging just dragged on—about how I ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) still couldn’t understand how people worked.
“...Yes. I understand what you’re saying.”
“Do you, though? You look like you don’t understand a damn thing—ah, Director Seo. Wait, are you—”
Just as I found myself exhaling, thinking surely that’s enough, a short vibration buzzed in my pocket. A message from Secretary Nam.
“Apologies, Your Highness. I think it’s about Taehyun.”
“Oh? Oh—go ahead, take it.”
010-0000-0000
Director, Master Joo Taehyun has completed his discharge process. He plans to stay at the Donghwa Hotel for the time being. How should we proceed?
“Is something wrong? Is Taehyun sick?”
“I should be going now, Your Highness.”
“Alright. You take care of yourself too. You’re not looking so good.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I’m serious! You’re already at a hospital—make sure you get a proper checkup.”

After all the scolding, the parting words were oddly kind. Prince Yi Hwang really was a good person—unlike me, who was just filled with selfish desire.
Seo Baekhan suddenly recalled that night at the hotel in Pyongyang, when he’d shared drinks with Joo Taehyun.
Joo Taehyun, who once said he liked me because I seemed to shine.
As Seo Baekhan stepped out of the pavilion, he instinctively shut his eyes against the blinding sun. Even though the cold wind of Hanpoong still blew, the sunlight blazed against him as if to say it wouldn’t be defeated. It felt like his whole body was burning under it.
***
“I plan to rotate the rooms weekly. It might be a bit inconvenient, but please bear with it for a month, sir.”
Joo Taehyun simply nodded to show he understood.
Dr. Woo and the rest of the medical team had recommended that he spend time in an environment like a hotel—one used by a constantly changing group of people.
His room at the main house was saturated with his own pheromones, and some traces of Seo Baekhan would likely linger after his last visit. If they wanted to track changes in his pheromones accurately, a completely new environment was best.
Joo Taehyun looked around the room he would be staying in for the week.
Devices for pheromone neutralization and various sensors were installed in several spots. He hadn’t brought much with him, so the room felt sparse and clinical.
It was spacious and comfortable enough, but not on the level of the top-tier rooms he occasionally used. Next time, they’d said he should try staying in lower-floor rooms he hadn’t used before… Maybe it felt like a solo trip. Then again, that too was just the whimsical thought of a spoiled heir.
“You don’t need to stay locked in the hotel. As long as you’re physically able, you should try anything you feel like doing.”
“Okay. By the way, Doctor… is there any way to sever the imprint entirely—?”
“Your response to the imprint is weak, but since it’s mutual, a procedure is possible. The risks are lower than with a one-sided imprint. But considering your current health, it’s too big a gamble right now.”
I knew that. I’d already heard it more than once, but I kept asking, hoping maybe today would be different.
Pheromone rejection syndrome.
It was a rare condition that only appeared under specific circumstances—but it had happened to me. And after that, Seo Baekhan… went borderline insane.
In a short period, he received multiple alpha pheromone enhancer injections and refused to let go of Joo Taehyun’s hand until a swarm of medical staff had forcibly pulled him off.
And Joo Taehyun… just stayed still. Even when they were together, he felt nothing. He would close his eyes and build an imaginary nest in his mind, and just hole up inside it.
Eventually, he would fall asleep without realizing it. And then… in his dreams, he would see the child that had died. Or rather, feel the presence. His imagination was too weak to form a proper image of the baby. He just kept having this irrational delusion that the child was still in his belly, flat and cold.
It was strange. And kind of ridiculous. It had only been a month. It’s not like he’d desperately wanted to have the baby. And yet now, only after the bloody lump had been removed, he felt such aching tenderness...
“Then—”
He was about to suggest taking the risk anyway—maybe now was the time to proceed with the procedure. But a long chime from the doorbell cut him off.
“Oh, I asked for room service. Meals will be delivered on schedule—breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
“Please make sure to eat every meal. I’ll be checking,” Dr. Woo said with exaggerated sincerity, hurrying to the door.
“Of course, if you plan to go out, let us know in advance and—”
He loved watching me eat more than anything in the world. With a spring in his step, Dr. Woo yanked the door open—and abruptly stopped speaking.
“...Doctor?”
Joo Taehyun tilted his head toward the door, confused by the sudden silence. But then his expression darkened instantly.
Standing awkwardly in the doorway was Dr. Woo, frozen mid-motion. And just beyond him—an all-too-familiar face.
“You allowed non-guests in now, huh? Guess our hotel’s gone lax.”
It was Seo Baekhan.
I had clearly heard he was supposed to be visiting Prince Yi Hwang at Changgyeong Palace today.
It wasn’t like I left the hospital just to avoid him. We’d planned this discharge date ahead of time. I simply hadn’t told him.
And I didn’t think he truly didn’t know. But since he didn’t make a fuss or take action, I thought—maybe this was for the best.
“I don’t remember permitting visitors.”
It was meant to be cutting. I knew the elevator required a card key just to push a button. So much for hotel security. I should tell my sister to retrain the staff.
“Secretary Nam booked a room on this floor. I can come up here, but I can’t open your door without permission.”
Seo Baekhan took the cart from the server and gestured for them to go. “That’s why I rang the bell and waited. Until you opened the door.”
This wasn’t the presidential suite, but just the next tier down—still spacious. Yet as soon as Seo Baekhan stepped in, the room felt uncomfortably full.
“Taehyun doesn’t seem to need urgent care. Mind giving us some space?”
Just as I was about to throw him out for his shameless attitude, he said something no one could ignore.
“It’s not something I can speak about lightly. It’s from Prince Yi Hwang.”
Ah… right. That situation must be hell on his end, too.
“...Can I ask everyone to give us a moment, please?”
Of all the people troubled by Baekhan’s bullshit, Prince Yi Hwang was surely the busiest. Even now, rumors of removing the Crown Prince circulated constantly. This scandal might’ve been the final blow. No one cared if the cause was flimsy or contrived—triggers never mattered in politics.
Nervously, I waited for Prince Yi Hwang’s message. But instead, Seo Baekhan raised one hand and lightly covered his own eyes, saying nothing.
Without meaning to, I swallowed.
What the hell happened? Is it that serious?
“Did Prince Yi Hwang… maybe…”
I was about to offer full cooperation—DH Group, my voice, whatever he needed. But then the pheromone neutralizer and air purifier suddenly flared bright red and kicked into overdrive.
What the hell?
I was startled by Baekhan stepping in, sure—but not to the point of spiking my pheromones like this.
Was it the food? It was just soup, bread, a few fruits. Even if the food had a scent, there’s no reason for the machine to go haywire. I looked around, confused—but saw no cause.
“...Taehyun. Ah.”
I turned instinctively at the sound of my name—and froze.
Anyone could tell that something was very wrong with Seo Baekhan. I couldn’t detect his pheromones, but something was definitely off.
“What’s… going on?”
“It’s just—I’m having trouble moving right now. You should—get out. Just go, and—”
“I’ll get the doctor. He can’t be far. What hurts?”
“I think it’s the shot. Side effects.”
“What?”
“I… kept getting injections… and then your pheromones hit me all of a sudden, in this unfamiliar place—”
Baekhan spoke in a dazed voice, breathing unsteadily. It sounded like he was sleep-talking. I couldn’t believe this was real.
“Wait here, I’ll—”
“No, don’t…”
“Hyung!”
“...I think I went into rut. So…”
Get out. Now.