"No..." I muttered. The thought of sending Viora away made my breath hitch, and a different kind of fear began to take over me.

"I am going back to work, but when I come back, I shouldn’t find her here."

Elena said and turned around. She took a few steps and reached the door, but before she could open it, Viora grabbed my arm with both of her hands.

"Woo Jin..." she whispered in my ear, and I looked at her lowered gaze and troubled expression.

Witnessing her being like this, some insane courage that had never existed in me before suddenly took over, and I blurted out,

"No. I won’t send her back."

My words made Elena’s hand freeze on the knob. She turned her head and gave me a side glare.

"What did you say?"

When she asked me that, I came back to my senses. But what was done was done. There was no turning back.

"I said I am not sending her back." I repeated.

Elena turned around completely and looked straight into my eyes. Her stare was so intense I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"You are really willing to defy me for her?"

Hearing her words, I don’t know what happened, but my body suddenly stiffened and my chest tightened. Even my breathing became a bit difficult.

’This... What is this pressure?’

It must have something to do with Elena. Whenever she gets angry, her power subconsciously gets activated.

And for someone as weak as me, the pressure was a little too much.

’Is Viora alright?’

I looked at Viora, but she was just standing there without much trouble. It was as if she wasn’t affected by it. However, it caused beads of sweat to form on my forehead.

Elena watched the sweat and the way I struggled to breathe. Slowly but surely, her anger or frustration began to subside, and the pressure also vanished.

Huff... Huff... Huff...

After that, I placed my hand on my chest and began to take deep breaths. Hearing them, Viora immediately leaned in closer and asked in a rushed voice,

"Why are you breathing so much, Woo Jin?"

I tapped Viora’s hand once and replied, "It’s nothing."

"Is it because of me? It’s okay, I can go." Viora tightened her grip over my arm and continued as she lowered her face again, "I don’t want you to fight with your aunt for me."

After that, she let go of me and stepped in front of me.

"Ma’am, I will just go back, so please don’t be harsh on Woo Jin," saying that, she bowed slightly.

But... she was bowing in the wrong direction. Elena wasn’t in front of her; she was a bit to the right.

"I am here." Elena informed her, and Viora turned toward the direction where the sound came from.

"Please, don’t get mad at Woo Jin." She pleaded again.

"No, Viora. You don’t have to do this. And as long as I am here, you aren’t going anywhere." I exclaimed and grabbed Viora’s shoulder to get her up, but she stood frozen.

For a moment, Elena just looked at her respectful stance and at me trying to help her, then let out another long sigh.

"Kids nowadays are really troublesome." She mumbled and told Viora to stand straight.

"Okay, you can straighten your back."

Hearing her, Viora stood back up and waited for Elena to speak.

"Viora, wait outside for a moment." After thinking for a while, Elena spoke. "I need a private conversation with him."

"Alright."

Viora didn’t even take a second to answer and placed a step ahead, but on her second step, she tripped over basically nothing.

I grabbed her arm and stopped her from falling. Viora was so embarrassed that she turned her face away from me.

"That didn’t happen." She said.

I smiled at her reaction and responded, "It literally just happened."

Viora pouted and, after stabilizing herself, began to walk toward the door again.

’But if she keeps walking straight, she will bump in the wall. I should help her.’

I took a step to help Viora reach the door, but Elena acted before me and by grabbing her hand, she walked her outside.

"Wait here. Don’t go anywhere."

She said to Viora, and after closing the door, she walked to the bed and sat on it.

"Woo Jin. Now that she is gone, tell me what exactly she is to you. Why are you being so overprotective and touchy with her? Do you like her?"

She asked me, and I took my time before answering.

"Yeah, I do. I wasn’t sure at first, but I am now."

With my answer, Elena looked at the ground, then moved her gaze to the door.

"Then let me ask you this once. If I tell you to choose between staying here or leaving with her, what would you choose?"

That question was a big one. She was basically telling me to choose between her or Viora.

But I was sure of what I wanted, so I didn’t wait and answered her immediately.

"I am sorry, Auntie."

That apology told her what my answer was. She closed her eyes and tapped her fingers against her arm.

"You really are serious..."

Saying that, she stayed silent for a long while, and then...

"Okay, she can live here."

"Really?" My eyes shone and my face lit up at her approval.

"But if I ever come to know that she is the one hurting you, or if she ever points her sword at you, I promise you, that day will be her last."

"What?!" Shocked, I let out.

"When that time comes, I won’t care if she is someone you like or love. I will use everything to put her down if necessary. And I won’t stop even if you cry in front of me and beg me to let her go."

She didn’t stop speaking.

"As your only family, it is my duty to keep you safe."

She stood up and looked at my shocked expression.

"But, I hope that day never comes."