BENEATH HIS COLD EMPIRE

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(Jae-hyun's POV)

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For the first time in a long time, the mansion felt... off.

Too quiet.

Too empty.

And it wasn't because of the guards, the staff, or the deadly calm before a mission. It was her.

Seo-rin hadn't crossed his path all day.

No soft footsteps outside his office.

No nervous glances at breakfast.

No ridiculous bickering with Taeyang in the courtyard.

He told himself it was better this way.

If she stopped poking at his pride, maybe he could focus again.

But instead, the silence grated on him.

> "Sir," one of his men interrupted, "Taeyang took the girl to the north range. Said she wanted to train."

Jae-hyun's pen snapped in half in his grip.

Training?

Without him?

He didn't even realize he was out of his chair until he was halfway to the range.

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When he arrived, Seo-rin was holding a small pistol, her brow furrowed in focus as she aimed at the target. Taeyang stood close behind, adjusting her stance with a light hand on her wrist.

> "You're stiff," Taeyang said gently. "Loosen up, Seo-rin. You'll hit nothing if you're scared."

"I'm not scared," she replied. "I just don't want to shoot someone."

"Then don't miss."

Jae-hyun watched from the shadows.

She laughed. A real laugh.

It stabbed him somewhere deep.

She hadn't laughed like that around him in days.

> "You shouldn't be out here," he said coldly, finally stepping forward.

Taeyang's gaze flicked to him with a smirk. "She asked me to help her."

"I didn't ask for your permission," Seo-rin added, her tone sharper than he expected.

He didn't reply. He just stepped closer, pulled the gun gently from her hand, and tossed it to the side.

> "Don't come out here again," he said, eyes locked on hers. "It's not safe."

Her jaw tightened. "It wasn't safe the day you kidnapped me."

Taeyang raised a brow. "Well… she's got a point."

Jae-hyun didn't break eye contact. "You don't understand this world."

"Then teach me."

"No."

She stared at him, heart pounding.

> "Then don't stop me from learning on my own," she whispered.

He didn't answer.

Because deep down… he wanted to teach her.

But he also wanted to keep her away from it all.

From him.

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That night, he passed by her room.

He didn't knock. Just stood there.

He could hear her humming softly inside. Peaceful.

And it killed him.

Because even if he didn't say it…

Even if he didn't admit it…

He already knew he was losing her.

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