The next day, I stood still with my hand on the doorknob.

Joo Seunghyuk had said I could go to the weight room alone, but I felt strangely nervous.

Honestly, I thought I'd completely blown it yesterday. I’d lost my temper and lashed out at him without thinking, forgetting I needed to stay on his good side.

But then, unexpectedly, I was given a chance to leave the room.

Can I really go out? What if he changes his mind now?

I took a deep breath and opened the door—and instantly fell speechless.

The hallway was wide, the floor gleamed with marble covered in elegant patterns, the arched windows were grand and old-fashioned, and outside those windows, I could see a beautiful garden.

I knew the room I’d been staying in was large, so I figured the villa must be big too. But this wasn’t a villa—it was practically a castle.

Was this actually one of those European heritage castles?

So this was where Joo Seunghyuk had grown up—a place like a royal palace, no, an actual castle.

I’d assumed he’d been treated like an outsider, forced to live in a side building as the child of a mistress. But maybe, even as the youngest son of a chaebol family, he’d at least received the minimum of proper treatment. That was... a bit of a relief.

“You’re up early.”

Seunghyuk approached with a soft smile. He was wearing a black tracksuit—the exact same design as mine. But with his height and body, it looked far better on him than it did on me.

“It really suits you.”

“No way. You look a hundred times better than I do.”

“You look great, hyung.”

He lightly rubbed my cheek.

“Going to work out?”

“Yeah. I figured I’d do it before breakfast.”

“Then why are you standing here, not going down?”

“I was going to, but the second I stepped out, the place was so big and fancy it startled me. I felt like I’d get lost if I took a wrong turn.”

“It’s all looks—there’s not much to it.”

He took my hand.

“I’ll show you around.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

He pointed to the room next to mine.

“This is my room.”

“You were right next door?”

“Of course. Where else would I put you?”

He smiled. The tenderness in his voice made me uneasy.

If I’d tried to run yesterday, I would’ve been caught immediately... With Seunghyuk right next door, escaping wouldn’t be easy.

We went downstairs together.

The weight room had a modern vibe. Unlike the overly ornate style of the rest of the place, this room clearly reflected Seunghyuk’s personal taste.

I’d assumed a private gym in a villa would be modest, but this one was equipped like a professional fitness center.

I looked around in awe, and Seunghyuk spoke.

“Should we start with a warm-up?”

“You’re joining me?”

“Yeah.”

It was the first time I’d exercised with Seunghyuk.

“I’m not very good. Are you okay with that?”

“I’m fine.”

He answered easily.

But that calm expression didn’t last more than ten minutes.

“Hyung...”

He looked down at me, sprawled across the floor.

“Get up.”

“Se... Seunghyuk... W-wait a sec... I—I can’t breathe—I think I’m dying.”

I had copied his exact movements. And after just ten minutes, I completely collapsed. My whole body was shaking, I couldn’t breathe, and even speaking clearly was impossible.

“That wasn’t even the full warm-up.”

“Y-you’re lying...”

Seunghyuk grabbed my arm and tugged.

“Just three more lunges, hyung.”

“No way! You said three last time too and made me do at least ten! I wasn’t going to say this, but Seunghyuk, I think you have a serious problem with numbers.”

Every time he said “just one more,” it was a lie. Same today. “Just five more seconds,” “just three reps”—he never stuck to it.

“I know.”

“You know?”

“You said so before.”

“I did?”

When did I say that? I thought he was bad at math, but I was pretty sure I’d never said it out loud...

I racked my brain to remember, and suddenly Seunghyuk pulled me into a hug.

“I’m sorry.”

“...Huh?”

“I know you hate moving around. I should’ve put workout gear in the room too, not just books.”

“...Couldn’t you have just not locked me up in the first place?”

Honestly, that would’ve been a much better option.

As expected, trying to follow a madman’s logic was impossible.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not because I’ve been sitting in the room. I’ve always been like this.”

Even if I hadn’t been locked up, it’s not like my squat form would’ve improved or I’d suddenly be great at lunges.

“I know.”

He did know... Well, he’d been watching me for seven years. There was probably nothing about me he didn’t know.

“Since it’s my first day, I’ll start with what I’m used to.”

“Sure. What do you want to do?”

“Bike.”

If you’re at the gym, you’ve got to start with the bike.

I answered confidently, and Seunghyuk’s expression stiffened slightly.

“Oh. The bike. What next?”

“The treadmill.”

“...And after that?”

Strangely hesitant—unusual for someone like him, who was usually so assertive.

What’s going on? Was there something wrong with my answer?

“Uh... Dumbbells?”

“You use dumbbells? How many reps?”

“Ten?”

I watched his reaction as I replied, and his mouth pressed into a thin line. It felt like I’d said something wrong. I studied his expression carefully as he slowly spoke.

“...Get up. Time for lunges.”

“Seunghyuk!”

Weren’t you going easy on me today? I shouted his name in panic, but he had no mercy.

“Just five.”

“You said three earlier!”

“Five.”

His tone was final.

***

In true maniac fashion, Seunghyuk was just as merciless during workouts.

After we finished, he took me to the dining room on the first floor. It seemed like I could roam around the house freely now, as long as I didn’t go outside the building.

The dining room, like the rest of the house, was absurdly extravagant. The dining table was long enough to seat twenty people.

Did he host parties here every day or something?

Eating alone at a table like this must feel unbearably lonely.

What about Seunghyuk?

Did he enjoy banquets as a child? Or did he eat here alone too...?

While I was lost in thought, the same housekeeper I saw yesterday brought out the food.

Her name was Yoon Jeongyeon. But aside from her name, I didn’t know anything about her. Seunghyuk hadn’t told me.

“If there’s anything else you need, please let me know.”

She had a Korean name and spoke fluent Korean. Probably a Korean national—possibly from a nearby Koreatown.

“Thank you.”

“Eat up, hyung.”

“Okay.”

I looked at the spread on the table. It was even more luxurious than usual, and sitting at the table like this gave the whole thing a different feeling.

I took my first bite, and Seunghyuk asked:

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious. Everything tastes even better after a workout.”

“...I see.”

He paused between words.

He was probably holding back the urge to say, ‘You called that a workout after all the whining you did for 20 minutes?’

“Let’s work out together every day from now on.”

“......”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“...Okay.”

So now he wanted to exercise together in the morning, too. Great. Another reason to escape.

“You don’t want to?”

“No, I’m grateful.”

“What for?”

“You gave me clothes, let me go outside the room, and gave me good food.”

Seunghyuk chuckled softly.

“You left out the part where I worked out with you.”

“......”

No matter how much I tried to stay on his good side, I just couldn’t say ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) that.

Five more minutes and I might’ve actually died... Sure, my stamina’s trash, but his standards were unreal. I didn’t know until today just how brutal lunges could be.

And if your form was even slightly off, he wouldn’t count it at all. Completely merciless.

“I like that you come to see me every day.”

I changed the subject.

“You like that I come?”

“Yeah. I do.”

“Why?”

“Just... everything.”

“What part do you like best?”

He wouldn’t let me deflect and asked again.

“I like when you use honorifics.”

I answered honestly, after debating what would please him most. Seunghyuk was sharp. A small lie could easily raise suspicion.

“You like when I use honorifics?”

“Yeah. It’s scary when you don’t.”

“I scare you?”

He asked as if it were a surprise. Did he seriously not know?

“Yeah. You’re terrifying. Actually...”

I pressed my lips shut in alarm. No matter how honest I tried to be, that was pushing it.

“It’s okay. You can tell me.”

He said gently.

Was it really okay to say it?

But refusing to answer now would seem suspicious.

“...Honestly, even speaking informally to you is scary.”

“Why?”

“Because I might mess up. I worry I’ll say something wrong and upset you.”

“We’re the opposite, then. I like when you speak informally. It makes me mad when you use honorifics.”

Mad? Not just dislike—but actual anger?

Even when I’m trying to be polite, he hates it? I didn’t understand.

“Why...?”

“Because when you use honorifics, it feels like you’re going to leave me. That scares me. Watching you cry scares me too.”

Seven years ago, I’d been guiding Seunghyuk when I realized this world was from a novel. I was overwhelmed by fear and confusion and cried. I spoke to him formally and broke our exclusive contract.

Did that become a trauma?

I’d always found it strange that Seunghyuk became obsessed with me back then, but I never imagined it had affected him that deeply.

Back then, he hated me. He called me a filthy beggar.

Why did he suddenly change?

“Hyung, you’re not still thinking of running away, right?”

Seunghyuk’s eyes turned icy. He was watching me. He hadn’t forgiven me. He hadn’t let his guard down.

“No. I’m not thinking that.”

“...I’ll believe you.”

He stared at me directly. But his gaze didn’t say he believed me.

It said, You’d better not be lying.

If I tried to run again and got caught... I’d end up like Kim Jun in the original story—erased from society and locked away forever.