Beast, Blue Blood - Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Si-woo turned around, and Ha-yeon tore a page from her notebook and handed it to him. On the paper was a landscape drawing with a full moon in the sky. It was an exceptionally well-drawn picture, especially for a nine-year-old.

Then, Ha-yeon spoke.

“Thank you for coming to rescue me.”

Si-woo simply smiled and stepped off the plane. In front of him, the plane slowly began to take off. He looked at the drawing in his hand.

Even though he couldn’t see it, knowing that the moon was shining safely in the night sky every day was enough to make him happy.

* * *

“Ah-eun, who killed exactly 21 people at the scene, was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to 164 years in prison.”

Although all the victims were kidnappers and it could be considered a case of self-defense, the sheer number of victims was so high that it was tantamount to a massacre.

Afterward, Ah-eun served her sentence in a special prison for Luax, a high-security prison often called New Alcatraz. However, after ten years of exemplary behavior and a massive bail posted by ISLE, she was able to be paroled.

Ah-eun had no intention of returning to the Ivanov family, believing she had no right to do so. But on the day of her release, she found Ha-yeon—who had grown up considerably by then—waiting for her in front of the prison.

And so, Ah-eun returned to the Ivanov family.

As the head of the Ivanov family, Ivan spoke.

“To Ha-yeon, Ah-eun is a lifesaver. If Ah-eun hadn’t been there that day, Ha-yeon wouldn’t be alive right now.”

If Ah-eun hadn’t slaughtered those filthy men who harmed Ha-yeon, Ivan reasoned, the Ivanov family wouldn’t be the way it is today either.

“I won’t deny that we owe her.”

Eugene said, her expression as cold as steel.

“But how can we allow someone this unstable to be around the children?”

Ah-eun had practically raised Hisha, spending more time with him than anyone else, even though he was busy with his own work. But even before the kidnapping incident, Ah-eun had been a vampire with the destructive strength to single-handedly wipe out 21 members of a terrorist group. And that was even though her mental state could snap at any time.

Even so, Ivan calmly responded.

“The trigger isn’t so easily pulled.”

“Even a 0.1% chance is still a possibility.”

Eugene insisted.

“You say Ah-eun is a lifesaver to the young lady? Then let me put it this way—Martha is my lifesaver.”

Because Martha was the one who had infected Eugene. Even though Martha had no self-awareness at the time and hadn’t meant to, if it weren’t for her, Eugene wouldn’t be standing here now.

“I’m sorry, but Martha will be taken care of by me and my husband for the time being.”

With that, Eugene left the room, and Ivan remained silent until she was gone. The sound of Eugene’s footsteps echoed down the hall as Ivan turned to the window.

“No matter how long you live, life never goes the way you want it to.”

* * *

Hurried footsteps approached the entrance, and a slightly pale-faced Si-woo appeared.  

“Miss.”

He said, addressing Ha-yeon, who was sitting on the bed.  

“Si-woo.”

Ha-yeon responded.  

Ah-eun, who had been sitting on a chair beside them, stood up and spoke.

“I’m sorry… If only I hadn’t…”  

Ha-yeon looked at her in confusion.  

“What are you sorry for, Emily?”  

“If I hadn’t left…”  

“It’s alright, Ah-eun.”

Si-woo reassured her before turning his attention to Ha-yeon.  

“Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you…”  

“I’m fine. Calm down. I’m not hurt.”  

Despite confirming that Ha-yeon was unharmed, Si-woo’s face grew even paler. Seeing this, Ha-yeon cupped his face in her hands.  

“Si-woo, look at me. I’m alright.”  

Feeling the warmth of Ha-yeon’s touch, Si-woo finally relaxed, if only slightly. Just then, something dropped to the floor with a thud. Hisha stood at the doorway, his eyes wide in shock.  

“What…!”

He stammered, unable to continue.  

“W-what is this…!”  

But Ha-yeon crossed her arms and asked, her tone slightly sarcastic.

“Isn’t it obvious?”  

Hisha’s mouth hung open as he looked back and forth between Si-woo and Ha-yeon. Finally, as if realizing something, he muttered in disbelief.

“So you’re saying you and Selena… have been… intimate? I can’t even imagine…”  

Si-woo reached out as he saw Ha-yeon uncross her arms, preparing for a strike.  

“Please don’t hit him.”  

“And let this idiot get away with it?”

Ha-yeon retorted.  

Just then, Eugene appeared at the doorway. Hisha, still stunned, turned to her like a child tattling on someone.  

“Eugene, you won’t believe what I just saw…”  

Interrupting him, Eugene said to Ah-eun.

“Emily, can we talk for a moment?”  

Ha-yeon looked at Ah-eun, then at Eugene with a puzzled expression. Ah-eun and Hisha both wore confused looks as well.  

“Why Emily?”

Ha-yeon asked.  

“Selena.”

Eugene said abruptly, glancing at Si-woo and then Ah-eun.

“Emily… I’ve been wondering why the two of you go by those names. Did you think you could hide behind such wordplay?”  

Si-woo furrowed his brow, and Ah-eun flinched. Eugene continued, her tone indifferent.

“We’ve decided to move out. Although the victims were all despicable criminals and the situation was dangerous, the fact that Chun Ah-eun could lose control makes her unsuitable to care for a child.”  

Ah-eun turned deathly pale, but Eugene remained cold and detached.  

“Their bloodline has quite the infamous reputation. Chu Si-woo—while the exact numbers aren’t known, it’s estimated you’ve killed around 30 people. Captain Alex went to Joseon specifically to stop you.”  

“You weren’t even there that day.”

Ha-yeon said quietly, drawing everyone’s attention to her.  

“Did you see what happened?”

She asked, her voice rising with the suppressed anger she could no longer contain. She grabbed Eugene by the collar, her fury evident as she shook her. Eugene didn’t flinch, but Ha-yeon shook her as though she wanted to tear her apart, shouting,  

“If Emily were the kind of person to lose control and harm a child, she would’ve killed me first! I was there! Right beside her!”  

“Miss!”  

“Ha-yeon!”

Si-woo wrapped his arms around Ha-yeon’s shoulders, while Hisha grabbed her wrist. However, Ha-yeon paid no mind to them, pushing Eugene aside as she yelled.

“If Emily hadn’t killed them, I would’ve! Don’t speak as if you know everything!”  

Ah-eun looked at Eugene, her hands gripping her collar trembling.  

“I’ve always regretted that I couldn’t overcome the darkness inside me that day. If only Miss Ha-yeon hadn’t witnessed such a horrific scene… I kept thinking about that. I felt like I had inflicted an unerasable wound on her. Unlike young master Hisha, Miss Ha-yeon seemed to carry a shadow with her because… that day… in front of her…”  

Ah-eun swallowed hard and took a deep breath.  

“I feel like it was because I couldn’t suppress the ‘real’ me.”  

“Emily.”

Ha-yeon called softly as if to stop her, but Ah-eun continued.  

“But not once have I regretted killing those 21 men. I would’ve killed 210 if it meant saving Miss Ha-yeon.”  

Ah-eun believed that if there was any reason she became a vampire, it was to save Ha-yeon that day. Being infected, turning Si-woo, and living over 800 years without any purpose—it was all to wait for that one day… the day she could save the daughter she hadn’t been able to.  

Bowing her head deeply, Ah-eun said.

“I’ll leave the estate. Please take care of Miss Martha. Ivan would be heartbroken.”  

With that, she turned and quickly left the hospital room.  

“Emily!” 

Ha-yeon called after her and ran out. Si-woo glanced at Eugene and Hisha.  

“For now, it’s best if we relocate Ah-eun.”

He said and followed after Ha-yeon.  

“I can’t lose you and Martha.”

Eugene muttered, looking at Hisha.  

“Never.”

She added, her blue-tinged eyes staring ahead.  

“I can’t allow even the slightest possibility.”

She whispered as if reassuring herself that she would never regret this decision.  

Hisha wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Eugene looked at him, surprised.  

“I thought you wouldn’t take my side on this.”

Despite her strong expression, Eugene looked like a lost child, and Hisha, holding her, softly replied.

“I think it’s a good thing… it means we all have something precious.”  

* * *  

Sitting on the armrest of the sofa, Ha-yeon spoke.

“That backpack was placed right behind Emily.”  

Si-woo, who was standing, asked.

“Do you think it was targeting Emily?”  

“Who would target a mere maid?”

Ha-yeon responded dismissively.  

Si-woo swallowed a sigh.  

“A maid who killed 21 members of a terrorist group.”

“Didn’t they say that group was disbanded?”  

“The individuals didn’t disappear. They could be seeking revenge.”  

“After all this time?”  

Si-woo nodded.  

“After all this time.” 

Though the timing seemed odd to Si-woo as well, if anyone were to target Emily, there was only one group that made sense.

Since her release, Emily had completely withdrawn from outside activities, living solely as a maid for the Ivanov family. Although she hadn’t engaged in much external activity before, after her release, she erased all traces of herself from the outside world and confined her life to the Ivanov mansion.  

Ha-yeon tilted her head.  

“So you think they were targeting me?”  

“But it would make more sense for them to want you alive.”

“That’s true. If they shattered me into pieces, I’d be of no use.”  

At that, Si-woo pulled Ha-yeon closer and set her on his lap, looking up at her with a pained expression in his eyes.  

“Please don’t say that.”  

“Sorry.”  

Realizing she had been thoughtless, Ha-yeon wrapped her arms around Si-woo’s neck. The cute image of her seemed worlds away from the person who had shouted at Eugene just moments ago.  

Their lips met, and Si-woo pulled Ha-yeon in a bit tighter as if he were trying to keep her close.  

Just then, the AI spoke up.  

[Mr. Hisha is here.]  

Si-woo and Ha-yeon exchanged glances, and Ha-yeon stood up, saying.

“Let him in.”  

A moment later, Hisha walked in.  

“Young master.”

Si-woo greeted him. Hisha looked him up and down, slightly displeased.  

“What’s with you looking so good, especially with a name like Selena?”  

At a loss for words, Si-woo could only chuckle awkwardly.  

“I seriously wanted to marry Selena when I was a kid.”

He admitted and grumbled in response.  

“Why are you here?”  

Ha-yeon crossed her arms, looking at Hisha with a tilted stance. Hisha’s expression turned serious as he spoke again.  

“Understand Eugene. The only family she has left is me, Martha, and her siblings who would give up everything just to see her unhappy. That’s why she’s sensitive when it comes to our well-being.”