I Bought the Male Lead with Money

13.

It was a proposal that could only be made because it was Jinhyeon. However, he did not easily yield.

“Isn’t it true that Yu Jin’s sister can offer you more?”

“If it’s ordinary money or power, then yes.”

Yu Jin looked directly at Jinhyeon.

“You don’t want something ordinary, do you?”

When fighting, Jinhyeon resembled a beast. Yet, he also had a cool and greedy, snake-like side. He couldn’t bear the desire to swallow everything whole.

That’s why Jinhyeon had seduced Roena to seize the Lucid family, using it as a stepping stone to become a noble. Of course, Jinhyeon would not be satisfied with just that.

If he became a noble, he would want to become an emperor, and if he became an emperor, he would want to swallow the continent. It was a chilling desire.

Since Jinhyeon was the protagonist of the novel, the readers enjoyed such deviations.

‘To me, this is reality.’

So, to avoid dying, Yu Jin had to hold onto Jinhyeon. There were times he thought it might be better to just kill him. But what if he failed to kill him?

At that point, he could bet all his possessions that he wouldn’t meet a clean end.

“How strange.”

Jinhyeon wiped the expression off his face. He stared intently at Yu Jin. The strange atmosphere in the room made Keith tense up, but Jinhyeon did nothing.

“It feels like you’ve entered and exited my insides.”

Yu Jin had never truly voiced what he wanted, yet he acted as if he knew everything. Yu Jin did not deny it.

Here, it was better to act as if he knew something. That way, he wouldn’t go to Roena.

Honestly, Jinhyeon, being a man, could also be attracted to Roena. His personality was a bit off, but Roena was beautiful and had a good figure. She also held more money and power than Yu Jin.

Thus, Yu Jin had to step up his game. He wanted to avoid Jinhyeon’s gaze, but he held firm. How long had it been?

The heavy feeling dissipated, and his body felt lighter. At the same time, Jinhyeon opened his mouth.

“Will you grant me anything I desire?”

“Sure.”

“Then let’s wager the family name.”

For a noble, the family name is absolute. While Yu Jin didn’t think so, it seemed Jinhyeon did. It wasn’t something he couldn’t comply with.

“I swear on the name of the Lucid family.”

A futile oath. Still, since he had no intention of breaking it, it didn’t matter.

“Alright. Then I’ll refuse.”

As Jinhyeon approached, Keith blocked Yu Jin’s path. He looked ready to kill Jinhyeon at any moment. However, Jinhyeon did not respond. He merely gazed calmly at Yu Jin.

“Keith. Step aside.”

“But Yu Jin! I don’t understand why you’re doing this!”

From Keith’s perspective, Jinhyeon was merely a duel slave, so it was understandable. However, it was troublesome for him to block every time something happened.

“I’ll explain later. So for now, let Jinhyeon do as he wishes.”

At Yu Jin’s words, Keith’s expression darkened. He seemed to want to say something, his lips twitching, but he soon sealed them shut.

“Please do tell me later.”

The conversation ended there. Jinhyeon calmly took Yu Jin’s hand and headed toward the place where Roena was waiting.

“Oh my?”

Roena, who had been nagging the maid beside her, widened her eyes upon seeing the two.

“Yu Jin is still young. How old are you to be holding a slave’s hand? Isn’t it time you walked alone?”

Roena naturally belittled Yu Jin as if it were second nature. She had come to covet Jinhyeon, but seeing him attached to Yu Jin twisted her insides. So, it was better to cling to Jinhyeon here.

Yu Jin grabbed Jinhyeon’s arm and stuck close to him.

“Jinhyeon likes me too much.”

Jinhyeon naturally embraced Yu Jin, who had come close to him.

“That’s right. I’m only for my master.”

“How long has it been since you met?”

Roena glared at the two.

“Well, it’s fine. Feelings can change faster than you think.”

Setting down the teacup she was holding, Roena waved her finger.

“Little one, sit down.”

If they sat, they would inevitably have to separate. Jinhyeon had to sit on the floor since he was a slave.

‘How petty.’

There were times when a master would sit with a bedroom slave in their lap, but that was not something Jinhyeon and Yu Jin had agreed upon. Reluctantly, Yu Jin pulled away from Jinhyeon’s embrace and sat in a chair.

“You too.”

Roena pointed at Jinhyeon. Without hesitation, Jinhyeon knelt beside Yu Jin and wrapped his arms around his legs.

“What an undisciplined slave.”

Clicking her tongue, Roena continued.

“Jinhyeon, right? Tell me what you want. I’ll give you whatever you desire, be it wealth or status. So come to me.”

Roena arrogantly lifted her chin.

“Is it wealth you seek?”

“Yes, I am the daughter of the Lucid family. I’m different from the abandoned, reckless youngest son of the family. I can offer you much more. If you want, I can even free you from your slave status. Do you wish to rise higher? That’s possible too.”

Seeing her in person, perhaps she was more tempting than he thought, as Roena’s words became lengthy. Jinhyeon lowered his gaze modestly and fell into thought.

‘Is he really wavering now?’

Yu Jin’s heart raced with tension. It felt like his heart wouldn’t survive here.

Perhaps he might actually develop a heart-related illness. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fluttering so often. He should see a physician after this.

“This is troublesome.”

Jinhyeon spoke as if he were in a difficult position. Yet, while he spoke, the hand that was wrapping around Yu Jin’s calf began to move slowly upward.

The problem was that Roena was watching it all.

“Wealth is sufficient as it is now.”

As he said this, Jinhyeon began to rub Yu Jin’s thigh. The skilled movements reminded him of what had happened earlier, and naturally, tension built in his lower abdomen.

‘You crazy bastard!’

He wanted to swat Jinhyeon’s hand away immediately, but he held back for now. He must have his reasons for doing this.

“I’m satisfied with my status as well.”

A lie. Yu Jin unconsciously narrowed his eyes. Meanwhile, the hand that had been exploring his thigh began to circle his waist.

“I only want one thing.”

“What is it?”

Roena’s voice cracked. The young man’s touch was so dense that as he explored Yu Jin, Roena became excited as well.

“To ride on top of my master.”

His head went blank. Excuse me, didn’t you just ride on top earlier? You can’t possibly mean to do it again, right? Yu Jin trembled at the ominous premonition.

On the other hand, Jinhyeon remained calm. He provocatively licked his lips.

Seeing him, Roena let out a deep breath. Then, she tossed her long hair back and pushed out her chest.

“Aren’t I better than that little brat?”

She subtly displayed gestures that seemed to permit her body, but Jinhyeon did not fall for it.

“Little brat? How much more beneath my master could I be?”

Enough! That’s it! Yu Jin brought a finger to his lips to silence Jinhyeon. At that action, Jinhyeon closed his mouth, and Roena, who had been listening intently, leaned back in her chair, looking disappointed.

“I’m curious about what’s behind.”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“Why? Isn’t a slave who performs well at night precious?”

This pervert! No wonder he fell head over heels for Jinhyeon and gave everything! Yu Jin struggled to remain calm.

“Anyway, Jinhyeon says he doesn’t want to go to my sister.”

“Indeed.”

Roena twisted her hair around her finger again.

“You swore on the family name, didn’t you?”

Yu Jin hammered the point home again.

“Shut up. It’s not over yet.”

Of course not. He never thought she would give up in one go.

“You, come here.”

Roena called Jinhyeon. Jinhyeon did not move immediately upon being called. Instead, he turned his head to look at Yu Jin.

A slave prioritizes their master. Of course, if someone of higher rank than the master gives an order, he would have to move, but Jinhyeon did not do that. In a way, it was an act of ignoring Roena. And Roena was quick to notice such things. Her eyebrows twitched.

If left alone, she would try to harm Jinhyeon. Then Jinhyeon wouldn’t stay quiet, and the situation would turn chaotic. Reluctantly, Yu Jin stepped in.

“I can hear you well from there.”

Roena could no longer hold back. Rising from her seat, she approached Yu Jin and slapped him across the face.

Smack!

What a crisp sound. Her hand was anything but ordinary. Roena seemed unsatisfied with just one slap and struck the same spot again.

‘What a hand habit.’

Just like the second wife. Every time Roena slapped, Keith flinched. It was a good thing he had warned himself not to intervene no matter what happened before entering.

Roena finally stopped after slapping him several times.

“Train your slave properly.”

“……Yes.”

As he deliberately dragged out his weak response, Roena clicked her tongue as if to make him listen and left the room. Hearing her footsteps fade away, Yu Jin relaxed his body.

“Yu Jin!”

Keith rushed over to check Yu Jin’s cheek. He reached out but couldn’t bring himself to touch it, trembling instead. His green eyes were already glistening with tears.

“It’s my fault, I’m not enough!”

No, it was that damn protagonist Jinhyeon’s fault.

‘He must have provoked her on purpose.’

He had said he would grant any wish, but it seemed he didn’t fully believe that. It felt like he was testing how far Yu Jin would go for him.

“Your personality is really terrible.”

Yu Jin smiled bitterly. The physician was called, and Haruna, who had been working at the upper house, also rushed in.