Eat The World Tree-Chapter 344: You Do As You Please

You Do As You Please

Lee Shiheon had left.

With the person they wanted to impress gone, was this simply a battle of wills between two tigresses?

Between Seyeong and Dallae, who were staring each other down, Byeol nervously sipped on her chocolate latte, glancing around to gauge the atmosphere.

‘I wanted to eat eel with Shiba and Shiheon too….’

Unable to win, Byeol had already waved the white flag. With the intimidating older sisters standing with their arms crossed, her once-proud golden hair drooped lifelessly.

Even her lively, star-shaped pupils rounded out in deference.

-Zzing.

The two, fully aware of each other, kept a fragile peace. For now, everything was fine. They were seriously exchanging information about childcare, and Jin Dallae, the child’s mother, wasn’t asserting her stubbornness yet.

After all, she was Lee Shiheon’s lover. Since the topic was about Shiheon and his daughter, they prioritized him over their personal feelings, maintaining the fragile peace.

“The supplements over here are relatively good. But if the child has absorbed the Tree Circle Pill, the nutrient blend needs more attention. It’ll probably require custom orders.”

“Ah, I see….”

“But even if you contact the companies for these growth-enhancing supplements, it takes time for the packaging to arrive. Many get rejected due to national restrictions on the ingredients.”

“Isn’t there an easier way to get them?”

At Dallae’s question, Seyeong sighed.

“The Tree Circle Pill isn’t common. Our family company proposed developing it, but it’s still on hold.”

“……”

“Still, supplements are a must. It’s directly tied to health. While the ones I mentioned can suffice….”

“No.”

Dallae’s firm reply brought a smile to Seyeong’s face.

“Contact me later. I’ll connect you with someone I know. The supplements must fit the child.”

“…Thank you.”

“And what do you say for that?”

“Thank you, Professor.”

“Professor, huh….”

However, as the topic shifted from ‘Shiheon’s daughter’ to ‘Shiheon’ himself, the air thickened.

Now, it was genuinely a matter of pride as women. Byeol lowered her posture and subtly averted her gaze.

“By the way, Dallae.”

Seyeong, in boots, lifted a leg and crossed it over the other. Her slightly transparent stockings gave off an enticing allure.

With a mischievous smile and sly eyes, she radiated the epitome of an alpha female.

Sensing the shift, Dallae adjusted the strap of her white dress, placing her hands neatly on her lap as she smiled. The rising strap revealed a vivid kiss mark and handprint on the skin near her collarbone.

“I have something to say.”

“Is it about cohabitation? It wouldn’t be against academy regulations since it’s in a private residence.”

“No, not that. I’m talking about Shiba.”

“……”

“If you’re her legal mother, then who’s the father?”

“Well, naturally, Shiheo—”

Shiba’s father was Lee Shiheon.

Just as she was about to say so, Seyeong’s expression twisted sharply.

It was the face she made when truly provoked. Recognizing it, Byeol’s face stiffened.

“Se… Seyeong.”

Byeol tried to intervene urgently, but Seyeong lightly ignored her.

With a glare, she silenced Byeol, who quickly shut her mouth, her confidence crushed.

Seyeong sighed deeply.

“Dallae. We’re not here to fight, are we?”

“…No, I suppose not.”

At their disinterested replies, Byeol inwardly screamed.

‘Of course, you’re here to fight! You witches!’

It wasn’t a catfight but a tiger brawl. Seyeong, glancing at the tense Byeol, clicked her tongue.

“Sure, right now, we tell Shiheon to go eat some eel or whatever. But think about it. If Shiheon truly wanted, none of us could stand against him. He’s got women everywhere. Isn’t that right?”

“……”

While true for Shiheon, it also reflected the women’s perspective. His growing circle of connections made him seem like some modern-day Casanova.

Even Byeol, listening silently, nodded in agreement.

“We’re in love.”

“Of course, we are. I love him too, and he loves me. Shiheon lets us win because he loves us both and tries to treasure us individually.”

You could call it consideration, and it would be accurate.

It was Shiheon’s way of showing love.

There were many polygamous households where peace was maintained, often by a clear hierarchy among the women or mutual affection that made hierarchy irrelevant.

Without either, the man would have to impose control through forceful means.

Shiheon wasn’t like that. Thus, only two options remained.

The second was too idealistic, and the first left room for malice.

To love one person fully was challenging enough. Splitting that love inevitably bred conflict.

“You think I’m wrong?”

“Are you saying betraying Shiheon’s love is unacceptable? But why bring up Shiba in this context….”

“Why else?”

Seyeong took a deep breath before continuing.

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“…What worries Shiheon the most isn’t us. It’s Shiba. And if your relationship with her is formalized, have you considered what happens to him, a potential World Tree husband candidate?”

A blind spot.

Dallae flinched.

“That’s—”

“You know the world’s unstable right now. After the betrayal by the UK’s National Tree, even our family is on the verge of collapse. Who knows when someone will target Shiheon? There are already plenty.”

If someone dear to Shiheon were legally acknowledged, where would the malice be directed?

And what burdens would Shiheon bear because of it?

“Is legally binding your relationship now really the right choice? Isn’t it too rash?”

Seyeong spoke calmly, her tone deliberate.

Byeol realized that the earlier flash of anger stemmed from this reasoning.

Seyeong had suppressed her emotions to speak. She deeply understood Shiheon’s current situation and his future.

“But.”

“I know what you were thinking.”

Jin Dallae wasn’t thoughtless.

Strengthening Shiba with the Jin family’s power wasn’t inherently a bad idea.

The benefits Shiba would enjoy throughout her life would be immense.

But that only applied if Lee Shiheon’s enemies were limited to nearby tree clans. The moment his enemies became the World Tree or Flower, the story would change.

“You like him, don’t you? Think about the guy too.”

It wasn’t jealousy but genuine persuasion.

“……”

Jin Dallae’s face paled.

“Shiheon probably knows deep down. He’s just planning to shoulder it all alone. Ugh, thinking about it annoys me. That guy still thinks he’s some protagonist in a cartoon. It’s a sickness, really.”

But that was what made him cool.

Byeol thought this to herself, letting it slide.

“…What should I do?”

“What else? You’ve already done it. Change it now. If you adopt her and remove the father’s name from the paperwork, it should be fine. Document tampering… tch. Let’s handle that ourselves.”

Seyeong was trying to help in her own way.

Jin Dallae, who had come in confidently, found herself listening to Seyeong seriously before long.

Her words might have been barbed, but they were productive.

More importantly, it was the first time Dallae truly felt that Seyeong cared about someone else.

When Seyeong pointed out characteristics of Shiheon, they often matched Dallae’s own thoughts, leaving her impressed.

Talking about the same man oddly made their conversation enjoyable.

For Jin Dallae, who had once criticized Seyeong harshly, this feeling was unfamiliar.

-Wouldn’t it be better if someone else were by his side, even if I died?

-He rejected my confession, then later said he’d accept it, stringing me along while continuing to meet me.

-He even encouraged me to meet other women.

-If you like him so much, why not accept his confession and stay together forever? Did you even like him in the first place?

There had been differences in approach.

But back then, Dallae hadn’t understood. She was consumed by her first love.

However, after watching over time, she began to understand what Seyeong had been thinking.

“Thank you. Honestly, I came here thinking I might have to fight you.”

“Oh, a fight? Then let’s fight. I guarantee I won’t lose to you.”

“……”

Grinning slyly, Seyeong flexed her hands, subtly revealing her engagement ring.

“I think I need to take things more seriously. We all seem to love him, after all.”

“Can we finally get along?”

“…How should I address you?”

“Unnie.”

“Seyeong Unnie?”

“Can we finally get along” sounded eerily like something Shiheon had said once, and it made Dallae laugh.

A female version of Shiheon—always trying to be considerate. That nickname seemed fitting.

The only difference was Shiheon’s steadfast devotion to one person. That might be what made him perfect.

At that moment:

“Wait.”

Byeol, who had been quiet, raised her hand with a mischievous expression.

This time, even the beta female had something to argue.

“I know you two both love him, but why does it feel like you’re leaving me out of the conversation? Seyeong, you jerk!”

“…Oh, sorry.”

“What? Shiheon loves both of you? Excuse me! I love him too, and he loves me back, okay?!”

This was a perfect storm.

Byeol’s frustration poured out like a flood.

“You’ve been talking about how he loves both of you, but there are three of us here! Why are you two acting like I don’t exist, you witches?”

“…Uh, I mean, Deputy Chairwoman Byeol?”

“Shut up, you beta!”

Byeol shouted enough to cause controversy on TreeWiki.

“Beta?”

“She does that sometimes. Just ignore her.”

“And you, Seyeong! You whipped me into submission, but you’re all gentle and sweet with her? I want Shiheon to myself too!”

Seyeong pursed her lips nonchalantly.

“Alright, I’m sorry. Our dear Byeol, were you feeling left out?”

“Aaagh! You witch!”

“…Pfft.”

“What are you laughing at?!”

“Squee, squee.”

“Sorry, Byeol Unnie.”

“…Unnie?”

Unnie. Unnie. Unnie.

“Hm.”

Hearing the sweet, flattering address from the pretty delinquent girl, Byeol’s anger quickly dissipated.

A tough, delinquent girl calling her “Unnie”?

‘I guess I’ve grown up.’

Well, in terms of hierarchy, wasn’t she the second wife?

Wait, maybe not?

Still, Byeol felt pride.

At least, she was the only one who could talk to Shiheon about games and comics.

When it came to love, she had a monopoly in that niche.

“Hmph, hmph. Oh-ho-ho!”

“Look at that grin reaching her ears.”

“Shut up, you simpleton. From now on, Dallae is the official wife.”

“…Byeol Unnie? Heh.”

Sliding her chair closer, Byeol nestled up to Dallae.

Though startled by the sudden show of affection, Dallae eventually adapted to the atmosphere.

Resting her chin in her hand, Seyeong sighed with a bored expression.

“You do as you please.”