M 153

There was no more need to hesitate. As General Oh Seon-ran had advised, it was time to cultivate subordinates as support forces he could trust and use when needed, rather than treating them like disposable items to use and discard.

Of course, he didn’t know how to embrace his subordinates with character like General Oh Seon-ran did. He didn’t want to either. However, he would engrave deep in their minds the fact that if they followed his words, they would definitely succeed. Even if they didn’t respect him as a commander, he was confident he could make them trust him absolutely.

“Tell the Ministry of Defense that we’ll keep both the process and results classified as top secret until the new training is established, and ignore whatever other departments might complain about and keep rotating the soldier. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t go soft by making allowances for everyone’s circumstances. Only take those who have the will and the skills to match that will. his training will only be meaningful if everyone in the cockpit is said to be a carbon copy of Ki Tae-jeong.”

A division where everyone in the cockpit is a little Ki Tae-jeong…? The adjutants felt chills just imagining it. Though they got goosebumps thinking about having to train and command such people, still…

“Yes, understood.”

It wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

It would probably be the most troublesome and tedious work they’d ever collaborated on with their superior, but they were somewhat, no, actually quite, looking forward to the new world their superior, who had always been precariously alone, would create.

“By the way, Major General, when are you planning to move into the new official residence?”

Taking advantage of the slightly relaxed atmosphere, Warrant Officer Choi asked carefully. It wasn’t because he’d been thoroughly scolded when he stopped by Brigadier General Kang’s office earlier, who asked when Major General Ki was going to stay in a General-level residence. Unlike when they barely managed to call Lee Sehwa by his name with hesitation or couldn’t even bring themself to say his name, these days they were confidently calling him ‘madam’. Although Ki Tae-jeong and Lee Sehwa were in a cold war for a few days, they would reconcile someday. There was no reason to live separately, so wouldn’t it be good to start preparing now?

“Considering the safety of both of them, I think it would be better for you to move to the new residence too.”

Captain Park also quietly agreed. ‘Both of them’ naturally referred to the ‘madam’ and the young master. Security personnel wouldn’t be dispersed, so Ki Tae-jeong could worry less too, and though it was just Captain Park’s personal opinion, he felt sorry for his superior regarding the residence issue. While Lee Sehwa wasn’t even visiting, Ki Tae-jeong was enthusiastic about decorating a residence that didn’t even match his rank. Lee Sehwa probably didn’t even know that Ki Tae-jeong was continuously buying childcare supplies.

“The madam seems to be in better condition than before…”

When no sharp rebuke to shut up came from Ki Tae-jeong, Warrant Officer Choi tried to be a bit more courageous.

“He looks better?”

Ki Tae-jeong, who had been listening silently, chuckled.

He looks better, Lee Sehwa…

Compared to when he couldn’t even make eye contact and stammered, he had improved considerably. Even he had mistakenly thought his wounds had healed quite well.

Lee Sehwa diligently attended treatment. Not only various tests related to his constitution, but he hadn’t neglected psychiatric visits either. Whether counseling or taking medication, he worked hard at whatever the attending physician instructed, and he exercised consistently. Perhaps because his will to get better was tremendous, his daily improvement was visible.

Since getting into baking, he often smiled even when it wasn’t about Hae-rim. his expressions became richer too. Even when his eyebrows drooped in frustration when something didn’t work out well, he would press his lips together saying he’d try again tomorrow… Each time, Ki Tae-jeong had to endure his boiling insides, clenching his fists so hard his palms were bruised. If he let his guard down even slightly, he felt like he’d pull Lee Sehwa into his arms and kiss him right away.

He found Sehwa lovely as he tried his best to get better, trying somehow to live, and he was grateful every day. He didn’t know who made the expression, but he deeply related to the phrase “so cute I could die.” These days, Ki Tae-jeong was dying from how adorable Lee Sehwa was.

His thin body was gradually gaining weight, his stamina improved, and color began returning to his previously pale face. Though he was still quite thin, compared to when he looked lifeless like a dry dead tree, he appeared much healthier. Ki Tae-jeong swallowed his admiration as he stole glances at Lee Sehwa carefully blooming. Damn, how could he be so pretty? Being able to watch closely the process of a flower he thought had withered coming back to life was Ki Tae-jeong’s greatest fortune and joy.

He thought that way until one day they went for a walk and encountered a dog.

If that incident hadn’t happened, he would have continued to mistakenly believe that Lee Sehwa had definitely improved, that he had gotten much better.

It was on the way back from taking Sehwa to the hospital for a simple physical response test. The weather was particularly nice that day, so it felt regrettable to just go home. After pondering, Ki Tae-jeong suggested to Sehwa that they walk around the complex once before going in. He didn’t call it a date since that would make him feel burdened.

Perhaps anxious about leaving only Hae-rim at home, Sehwa hesitated a bit, saying didn’t they have a terrace at home too. When he gently coaxed him saying let’s just go to that spot over there, Sehwa reluctantly followed him with small steps, but as soon as he entered the charmingly decorated walking path, he quickly puffed out his cheeks. His expression, busy looking around here and there, seemed even more childlike than Hae-rim’s.

The walking path, which advocated natural scenery, was luxurious yet not burdensome. Already reaching the midpoint, perhaps feeling regretful, Sehwa kept glancing at him and stopping for no reason.

‘What kind of flowers will bloom here?’

No matter how one looked at it, it just seemed like grass. Lee Sehwa dragged out time like that. It would be fine to stay as long as he liked if he enjoyed it, and he could say he wanted to walk more. He still didn’t know how to comfortably make various requests of him. Though it was regrettable, since it was none other than himself who had made Lee Sehwa that way, he could only sigh inwardly.

‘There’s a bench over there. Should we rest before going?’

‘Should we?’

Usually Lee Sehwa would first rattle off worries like Hae-rim will be waiting, isn’t the Major General busy too… but this time, he nodded saying yes before his words were even finished.

Ki Tae-jeong swallowed a bitter smile as he led Sehwa. Perhaps him staying cooped up at home since discharge was also because he was being considerate of him. Come to think of it, his outings were countable on one hand, and even those were when either he or General Oh Seon-ran accompanied him. Who could he blame? Whether it was Lee Sehwa’s unconscious behavior or he had his own reasons, the tyranny he had committed in the past had greatly influenced this.

‘The air in 5-Star really seems good.’

Lee Sehwa, sitting on the bench, stretched out his legs and wiggled his toes a few times. Ki Tae-jeong casually draped both arms over the backrest and watched Sehwa amusing himself well alone.

He was newly amazed at how long Lee Sehwa’s downcast eyelashes were, and surprised again that his nose bridge, which he thought curved gently, was actually higher and sharper than expected. His face revealed under the sunlight was snow-white as if sculpted from snow, and his cheeks and lips were rosy as if flower petals had been crushed.

How could someone look like this? It was the same admiration he had every time he looked at Sehwa, but nothing else came to mind besides those words.

Ki Tae-jeong, who had been savoring Lee Sehwa’s face that was lovely and beautiful both objectively and subjectively, realized he was unconsciously extending one arm toward him and flinched slightly. Old habits die hard, they say. As Ki Tae-jeong was about to awkwardly withdraw his hand, he stole another glance at Sehwa’s profile as he sat beside him, still smiling brightly.

…Wouldn’t it be okay to put his arm around his shoulder? It wasn’t like he was pulling him close, and if he put his elbow on the bench and just put his fingertips on his shoulder… He was smiling so well now. He had gotten so much better. Then wouldn’t he allow this much contact?

Ki Tae-jeong turned his head to the other side and touched the tip of his nose, then snuggled closer to Lee Sehwa’s side. They weren’t too far away, not too close. Just enough so that even if he put his hand on his shoulder, it wouldn’t be awkward. For some time afterwards, Ki Tae-jeong couldn’t keep his fingers still on the back of the bench. He drummed his fingers on the back of the bench as if they were keys, until he finally made up his mind and slowly tilted his upper body towards Sehwa.

‘Oh my, Choco!’

He heard the voice of a mansion resident who he wouldn’t normally encounter in the neighborhood.