So it wasn’t the guesthouse on the Seonghan Group estate after all?

There’d been no mention of this place in Swamp of the Guide... Then again, aside from the whole “secret birth” subplot, the original story didn’t go into much detail about Joo Seunghyuk’s past.

“I see. It’s... a really nice place.”

It was so elegant and antique-looking that I’d momentarily mistaken it for a fantasy world.

I’d assumed he’d been abused as a child, but maybe it hadn’t been that bad after all.

“Starting today, you’ll be staying in this room. I’ll bring you anything you need.”

That meant he was going to keep me locked up indefinitely. Seunghyuk still hadn’t forgiven me. I’d made up that whole story about panicking on airplanes just to avoid confrontation, and he’d given me one free pass. That was all.

Come to think of it, I was undressed again. The handcuffs and shackles were gone, but aside from that, nothing had changed.

I stared at my ringed hand—now free of restraints—and my eyelids began to flutter shut.

“Looks like the meds are still in your system. You must be exhausted from the flight. Get some more sleep.”

Seunghyuk gently laid me down on the bed and pulled the blanket over me. Just like he said, a wave of sleepiness washed over me. But when he turned to leave, an uneasy feeling stirred inside me.

I suddenly grabbed his hand.

“What is it? You want to go out?”

His eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. I quickly shook my head.

“N-no, it’s not that. I just... are you not getting married?”

What Joo Junghan had said—it had to be a lie. But since that line had been in the original novel, and I hadn’t heard anything from Seunghyuk directly, anxiety crept in.

There was a chance—however slim—that he might separate marriage from obsession, like he had in Swamp of the Guide.

“I am.”

“...What?”

My heart plummeted.

Seunghyuk looked down at me and brushed my messy hair behind my ear.

“I’m marrying Lee Yeonsu.”

“Then what about the only daughter of Lexington Pharmaceuticals?”

“What about her?”

“But Lexington is, like, a top-three pharmaceutical company for Espers globally...”

“So what? Do I seem like the kind of pathetic man who would marry for status?”

The original Seunghyuk definitely would have. He would’ve considered marrying for love idiotic and sentimental nonsense.

“Hyung, I’ve said it before—I’m a firm believer in pre-marital purity. If you took everything from me, then you have to take responsibility.”

If someone in the original novel had said something about “purity” instead of love, he’d have told them to check into a psychiatric ward.

But now the Seunghyuk in front of me was saying the exact opposite of his original self.

“So you’re really not going to marry the Lexington girl?”

“I’m not.”

“Really? No other political marriage either?”

Was this another major deviation from the source?

When I asked again, Seunghyuk let out a low chuckle.

“You’re awful, Yeonsu.”

“...Huh?”

“You keep asking like that—it’s like you ran away because you thought I really was getting married.”

“I just—”

I started to explain, but his lips came down on mine. His kiss was suffocating, relentless, wrapping around me like a trap.

Each time his warmth filled my mouth, a hazy heat rose in my head.

He bit my lower lip lightly and murmured in a husky voice,

“Should I tie you up and do [bleep] and [bleep] to you?”

He was quoting me—repeating the things I’d drunkenly mumbled before.

“...No.”

“But you want it.”

“I don’t want anything touching my body unless it’s you.”

“You’re so wicked.”

Seunghyuk smiled and kissed me again. His hands slipped across my body. For some reason, his burning touch felt almost welcome.

***

We were together constantly.

Seunghyuk wanted me. And I didn’t resist his touch.

There was no time for reading or doing anything else.

Eat, fuck, eat, fuck. If this were a novel, it would’ve filled an entire volume with just scenes like that.

But even though we shared our bodies every day, the confinement didn’t end.

Seunghyuk still didn’t trust me.

Afterward, he carried me into the bathtub.

Everything was marble—the walls, the fixtures, even the sink was decorated in antique style. The place felt decadent, even luxurious.

Where was this place? It had been five days since we arrived, and all I knew was that it was Seunghyuk’s private villa.

Europe, maybe? Or America? I’d slept for most of the flight, so I couldn’t tell based on travel time alone.

As I sat there thinking, Seunghyuk’s face suddenly approached mine. I flinched and leaned away. His gaze immediately turned cold. It wasn’t just because I dodged his kiss—he was suspicious. Afraid I might try to escape.

Even after all this intimacy, his doubts hadn’t faded.

“...Sorry. I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“I was just wondering what day it is.”

The room I was locked in was wide and beautiful. It had everything I could need—bed, desk, sofa, table. But there was no clock or calendar. No TV or phone either. I had no way of knowing the date.

“Why?”

“It’s almost my dad’s birthday.”

“Don’t worry. I called and sent a gift for you.”

What the hell—are you my son-in-law or something?

Sure, it was insane that Seunghyuk had called in my place, but what really blew my mind was that my parents probably believed him.

Of course they did... After the Aaron incident, my family trusted Seunghyuk completely.

“...I see.”

I closed my mouth. His face moved in again. This time, I didn’t dodge. I let him kiss me.

***

After the bath, Seunghyuk dried my body and towel-dried my hair. Since coming here, I’d barely used my own hands for anything.

When his fingers raked through my hair, it actually felt nice.

The first time he helped me shower, I’d been so ashamed I wanted to disappear. But even that was starting to feel... familiar.

As I sat in his lap and leaned into his arms, I looked toward the window. I couldn’t see anything beyond the curtain, but just gazing in that direction made me feel a little calmer.

“Do you want to go out?”

Seunghyuk was sharp. He caught on to my thoughts right away.

Honestly, I was surprised. But I couldn’t let it show.

I smiled faintly and shook my head.

“No. Not really. I just... the curtains are nice. The fabric looks thick and warm.”

“Are you cold?”

“It gets a bit chilly at night. I... I want to wear clothes.”

“I’ll give you some when you give me four kids.”

This isn’t The Woodcutter and the Fairy, for God’s sake...

And anyway, I’m a Beta. Kids?

So he really has no intention of letting me wear anything.

“Seunghyuk... I haven’t manifested.”

“I know.”

“If you want an Omega—”

“I want Lee Yeonsu.”

His black eyes looked straight at me. Unwavering. The moment I saw how steady his gaze was, I grew flustered and turned away.

He lifted my chin and kissed me. Something told me tonight would be another long one.

***

The next day, when I woke up, Seunghyuk wasn’t there.

Where had he gone so early? Actually—was it even morning?

This room had heavy blackout curtains. Every day followed the same pattern: sex, sleep, eat, sex, sleep again. It might be high noon, or it might be night. I had no way of knowing.

I tried getting out of bed—and noticed something different.

The white blanket covering me was thicker than yesterday’s.

He must’ve switched it out because I said I was cold.

Wrapped in the blanket, I pulled open the curtains.

Seunghyuk allowed me this level of freedom. Of course, during sex, all the curtains had to stay shut.

Sunlight streamed into the room for the first time, flooding the space.

Outside the window was a sweeping view of the blue sea. A stunning sight, no matter how many times I saw it.

I couldn’t be sure, but I guessed this room was at least three stories up. It had been five days since I got here—and I didn’t even know what floor I was on. That alone was kind of absurd.

If I were Kim Jun from the original novel, I’d have done everything possible to escape this place.

Smashed a window, maybe. Torn the curtains into a rope. Jumped out, even if it broke my legs. Maybe swum across that endless ocean to get away from Joo Seunghyuk.

But I hadn’t done any of that. I hadn’t even tried opening the door.

...Was there even a point?

This room was huge. Even the dorm room back at the academy had felt spacious when I was alone, and this place was at least four times bigger. Plus, when I opened the curtains, I got a full ocean view. Staying here didn’t feel that suffocating.

Most of all—I wasn’t alone.

I saw Seunghyuk every day. We talked. I could eat whatever I wanted. The bookshelf was filled with books I loved. Anything I asked for, he’d give me.

So maybe... maybe this was fine.

As long as I didn’t try to leave this room, everything would stay peaceful.

...Wait.

What the hell am I thinking?

A cold chill shot down my spine.

In the original story, once Kim Jun got used to being imprisoned by Seunghyuk, he found a twisted kind of peace. In the final scene of Swamp of the Guide, the shackles are gone and the front gate is wide open—but Kim Jun doesn’t run. Like a bird with broken wings, he’s forgotten what freedom even means.

And just now, I’d had the exact same thought as that ending.

The realization hit me like «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» lightning.

Lee Yeonsu, you’ve lost your goddamn mind. ‘Maybe this is fine’? Are you serious?