Starting a Reversal in Life From the Time of Release

17 – Who are you? (3)

It’s best if there’s nothing to catch attention even though we’ve already prepared in advance.

If you don’t attract attention, your mind will be at ease and it will be easier to move.

“Yes. There’s someone.”

However, she replied with a resigned attitude, knowing that she had been caught.

She didn’t want to worry about unnecessary questions or complications.

[“Is it your house?”]

“Yes. But why does it matter?”

Moreover, because I held the power at the moment, I could ask back in a forceful manner.

Asking wouldn’t achieve anything except annoy me, so I told her to keep quiet.

[“Oh… I’m sorry. I was just curious, that’s all…”]

As I expected, Seo Hanuel took a step back first.

She seemed very cautious since she had to make a good impression on me.

“We can meet at a cafe near Nokyang in three days. Around 3 p.m. Is that okay with you?”

[“…Yes. Then, I’ll see you then.”]

Click. After ending the call and putting my phone back in my pocket, Mari sparkled her eyes and asked.

“Is she a close friend?”

“She used to be a close friend. Now, she’s someone who wants to get close to me.”

At least in the past, we were close.

“Hmm… It’s subtle.”

Mari withdrew the shimmer in her eyes and calmly gazed at the vanity.

She was using it as a makeshift shelf, not for makeup.

“Should I start by drying your hair?”

I took out the hairdryer from the top drawer and dried Mari’s hair as she requested.

It was easy to handle the hairdryer, and she could have done it herself, but…

“Wouldn’t it be better if Shiho dried it…?”

Since she desperately asked me to dry it for her, I couldn’t help but comply.

Though it felt unfamiliar to touch a woman’s hair for the first time in my life, it was incredibly soft.

I didn’t know if Mari was special or if women’s hair was naturally this soft, since I had no experience.

Vvvvmm.

I heard the sound of the hairdryer and felt the hot air blowing out.

“I’m sorry. My hair is too long, so I needed someone to dry it like this. I can’t be thorough if I do it alone.”

She apologized as she looked at me in the mirror. Even her expression seemed perplexed, and her sincerity was palpable.

“It’s okay. I’m also a bit nervous because it’s my first time.”

“Really?”

Her voice brightened, seemingly pleased with the word “nervous.”

The thought crossed my mind that I might have said something wrong.

“Yes.”

“Well…that’s a relief.”

While I felt awkward, the dampness in Mari’s hair disappeared as my fingers touched her hair.

Perhaps due to the heat from the hairdryer, Mari’s cheeks were slightly flushed.

“By the way, can I come along when you meet that woman?”

As I put the hairdryer back in place, Mari blurted out something unexpected.

In an instant, I froze in the position of returning the hairdryer to the drawer.

Furthermore, the question “Why?” popped up in my mind like a burst of flames.

“Yes?”

Casually inquiring briefly, Mari answered without hesitation.

“I feel like I put you in an awkward position by speaking thoughtlessly. The person you contacted must have many questions.”

“It’s okay. Just tell them to turn a blind eye……”

“Then they might start investigating. It seems better to tie up loose ends quickly rather than avoiding them.”

Mari was clearly convinced that it would go that way.

Her persuasive power was so strong that most listeners nodded their heads.

Perhaps because of that, I too unconsciously nodded my head.

“It might…be possible, right?”

“That’s what I think. So, Shihoo, just watch from the sidelines.”

She confidently declared that she wouldn’t leave any room for hesitation.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course. It’s my fault.”

She seemed unwavering, even in my final inquiry, displaying a remarkable sense of responsibility.

Alberto had every reason to be proud.

I could only nod my head, resolute to see how she would handle the situation.

“How does it look? Does it suit me?”

On the day of our appointment, Marie came out wearing one of the outfits I had given her.

The black skinny jeans paired with the black see-through top looked incredibly good on her.

She naturally had a beautiful face, and with her curvaceous figure, it was only expected.

In truth, anything she wore would look good on her, but pretty clothes suited her even better.

“Yes, it looks great.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

As I emphasized how great she looked, Marie smiled with her eyes.

“Shall we go then?”

Marie stepped out of the entrance and bumped her fist against mine.

Being this close and obvious made me feel both embarrassed and oddly pleased.

Thankfully, we had become somewhat accustomed to each other’s company. Otherwise, I might have frozen in my tracks right there.

We got into the car and drove down the road until we reached the cafe where we had planned to meet.

“Si-hu. Are you sure this is the place we agreed to meet?”

Marie looked puzzled as she gazed at the cafe parking lot, where she was supposed to meet Se Ha-neul.

The concept of a cafe seemed foreign to her.

“Yes, it’s a cafe… In simple terms, they sell tea and drinks here.”

“But the owner doesn’t serve us personally?”

“No, you pay, and they make it for you, by the cup.”

“I see… So that’s why it’s designed so luxuriously?”

Marie stepped out of the car and looked around the cafe with a sense of wonder.

It wasn’t a wrong statement, so I just nodded in agreement.

I had heard that the interior design was an important factor in attracting customers.

After placing my order and finding a suitable seat, Marie asked, “Si-hu, you said all these people are ordinary commoners, right?”

“Yes, there’s no distinction in social status.”

Outwardly, at least. As I replied, Marie narrowed her eyes and swallowed her follow-up question.

“It’s nice to be able to enjoy luxury goods regardless of social status. It means they are easy to obtain and there is plenty of supply.”

“Are you envious?”

“Yes. It’s a good thing that logistics are running smoothly. Although it may be pitiful from the perspective of someone selling luxury goods.”

Uuung. As Mari and I were having various conversations, the vibration of the doorbell sounded.

Mari stared at it as if it was fascinating, and asked me a scary question while I was getting coffee.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t even drink my coffee and had to keep my mouth shut for a while.

“Ugh… It’s too bitter.”

After taking a sip of the americano in the mug, she made a face.

It was understandable since the bitterness of the first drink is hard to adapt to.

I thought I did the right thing by also getting a latte.

“It’s a bit bitter, right? Have this instead.”

As I handed her the latte that I hadn’t drunk, Mari grabbed the white cup. Of course, it was the cup with the latte.

For some reason, a lame pun that was popular in the past came to mind.

“This… is mine?”

“It’s okay, right?”

“Yes… it’s delicious.”

She held the latte cup in both hands and carefully sipped it.

Because it was hot.

I raised the americano cup that Mari had taken a sip from and took a sip.

It was still hot, but it didn’t scald the roof of my mouth.

“You came?”

Mari carefully looked around the entrance of the cafe and then moved to sit next to me.

The sofa seat was spacious enough for both of us.

“But still… why did you come to sit next to me?”

“It looks strange to sit next to a stranger.”

“Well… that’s true.”

There was nothing I could say to that.

“Mr. Si Hu.”

Finally, Seo Ha-neul approached us closely.

Her gaze and voice were trembling as she looked at us.

“Yes, please have a seat.”

“…Yes.”

Seo Haneul silently nodded and sat in front of me.

I took out the purified stone from the bag I had placed beside me and offered it to him.

“Start by taking this. I’ll take the backpack out and put it in the luggage compartment. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you found it useful…I’m relieved.”

Seo Haneul took the purified stone with a troubled expression.

“Just to have something to eat on the way, would you like something? I’ll get it for you.”

“It’s okay. Instead…can I ask you something?”

Instead of being surprised, I felt as if I had anticipated this question.

So, without much hesitation, I answered.

“Yes, go ahead and ask.”

“Who is the person next to you…?”

Seo Haneul asked, staring at Mari with a scary determination, without waiting for my permission.

I was very concerned, so I couldn’t get a grasp on the situation.

Then,

“First, we should exchange greetings. Nice to meet you. My name is Mari Elizabeth.”

Mari was the first to bow and greet us.

Just as she had told me in advance.

“…My name is Seo Haneul.”

Seo Haneul still replied with a shadowed face.

“Okay, what would you like to know?”

“Where did you meet Sihu?”

When Mari laid the foundation, Seo Haneul also hesitated and asked a question.

A gentle smile adorned Mari’s lips.

Unlike Seo Haneul.

“At the Demilitarized Zone. It was the road going from the north to the south.”

It seemed that she wasn’t satisfied with just a smile, so she crossed her arms as if waiting.

As a result, Seo Haneul, who had been observing her, squinted his eyes.

“The Demilitarized Zone?”

“Yes. I went down for a while, and coincidentally met Sihu who was hunting for wild horses. I was lucky.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Thanks to Sihu’s consideration, I’m able to wear such nice clothes like this. Thanks to him, I’m doing well.”

As Mari explained the situation, she emphasized the clothes I bought for her and smiled.

She touched them with her hands and pointed with her eyes.

The more she did that, Seoha-neul’s expression grew darker.

“You mean Sihu?”

“Yes. Sihu. Is there something else you’re curious about?”

Mari clenched her fist and stood up.

Because of that, I had to get up from my seat as well.

I guess her stubbornness was stronger, so there was no other choice.

“Well then, I’ll quickly move the luggage in the baggage car. I have another appointment after this.”

“Another appointment?”

Seoha-neul couldn’t just sit there either, and he asked, lifting his butt off the chair.

He seemed slightly irritated, but amidst that, there was a sense of resignation.

“Yes. So, I think I should excuse myself first.”

“Ah…”

Seoha-neul seemed at a loss for words when he heard there was another appointment.

But even in the midst of that, he managed to squeeze out his voice.

“Um, I have one more question. Do you live at Sihu’s house by any chance?”

“Yes. Well, I do…”

Mari loosened her fist, holding a tray with two cups lined up, and trailed off.

Then, she looked straight into Seoha-neul’s eyes and tilted her head.

“Why do you ask?”

Mari lives in my house.

The words were so shocking that Seoha-neul pursed his lips.

Like someone who couldn’t speak due to a great shock.

“Sihu, I’ll take care of the cleanup and then leave. Just wait in the car for a moment.”

“Yes? No, I’ll take care of it.”

“What are you saying? Of course, I should do it.”

In the meantime, Mari walked towards the returns counter with a tray in her hand.

“Mr. Sihu. What’s your relationship with that woman?”

Seo Haneul asked me, his eyes strangely filled with despair.

“We’re close.”

From the White Count’s mansion to the carriage, and up until today.

I built a relationship of friendship based on my connection with Alberto.

So I could confidently say that we’re close.

This was also true for Mari.

“Ah…”

Seo Haneul sighed as if he was disappointed with my answer.

It seemed that it wasn’t the answer he wanted.