The funeral of Ryu Hwa-young was not merely a family gathering — it was a national event.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kish87q4o
The roads leading to the Ryu family estate were lined with black sedans and government vehicles. Cameras flashed, security lined every path, and the somber air hung heavy with incense and whispers.
Beneath the towering cherry trees, a sea of black-clad mourners bowed their heads as the coffin was lowered, wrapped in the flag of the Republic of Korea. The Prime Minister, the President, the Mayor of Seoul, the Army Chief, and the Police Commissioner stood together, paying silent respect to a woman who had changed the face of Korean culture.
At the front, Ryu Tae-ho stood stiffly, his old frame trembling with the weight of loss. Beside him, Choi Eun-ha, his second wife, clutched her handkerchief, tears streaking her face. When the final prayer ended, her grief broke through restraint.
“Why… why wasn’t it you, Tae-ho?” she cried, her voice shaking the silence. “Why my daughter? Why my only child?”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. The sons of Ryu Tae-ho turned sharply — Jin-woo, Hyun-seok, Dong-ha — all glaring at her.
“Mother! Watch your tongue!” Jin-woo hissed under his breath. “How dare you say that here—”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYvny1IQBh
“I am your stepmother, not your servant!” Eun-ha spat back. “You men talk of empire, of legacy, but it’s always my children who pay for your pride!”
The air grew tense, whispers spreading like smoke.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5T2HGm6sm
Tae-ho closed his eyes for a long moment. His hand trembled as he raised it, silencing the noise.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oD4y9gnSk
When he turned, his eyes fell upon Jun-seo, his only son-in-law, standing hollow-eyed beside two young men — Tae-jun and Min-jun, both kneeling, heads bowed, tears tracing down their faces.
Tae-ho’s voice broke. “Come here.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC46WJNEJD
He reached out, and Jun-seo stepped forward. The old man pulled him into a trembling embrace. “You never wanted power, Jun-seo. Only love. And now the world has taken that from you.”
Jun-seo’s lips quivered. “She always admired you, Father… she wanted to make you proud.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXhdsaFkzS
Tae-ho could not speak. He simply tightened his grip and turned to the boys.
He placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “After today, both of you will stay in Korea. I’ve spoken to your father.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuER51eIpEV
He looked into their red eyes, his own glistening. “Tae-jun-ah, you may attend any university you wish. Min-jun-ah, you will study at our school. From now on, you’ll live here — with me.”
The cousins watched from behind, whispers flickering like embers. Ryu Min-jae, the eldest grandchild, clenched his jaw. He already had rivals within the family — and now, two more had arrived.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB1EIuVGcA
But among the quiet ones, Ryu Ha-neul and Ryu Na-eun, sympathy bloomed.
Later, as mourners dispersed, Ha-neul approached Tae-jun softly.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXItuIT4NjE
“Let’s both apply to SNU,” she said gently. “Business majors. Maybe it’ll help… ease things.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87QH55x0oV
Tae-jun forced a faint smile. “Maybe. But right now… my mind’s a mess. I’ll decide later, Ha-neul.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7Nl3WBf9r
She nodded, her eyes kind. “I’ll wait.”
That night, the Ryu mansion was thick with silence — the kind that follows chaos.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzchmppLdjQ
In the grand hall, Ryu Jin-woo slumped onto the sofa, exhaustion written across his face.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7OGivcnap
His wife, Seo Min-kyung, poured herself a glass of wine. “Is your father planning to give everything to them?” she asked coldly.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0KF6ewnk2
Jin-woo sighed. “Not now, Min-kyung.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeusOxirDQo
She continued anyway. “We already have problems with Hyun-seok. Now he’s bringing in those boys? You know what that means for our children—”
At that moment, Min-jun walked past the doorway.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtQfSOOxtA
He froze. The words hit like shards of glass. His small fists clenched tightly, veins pressing against his pale skin.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmXQNmfBTp
He turned away before they could see the tears in his eyes — and ran upstairs to his brother.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhthhzLSlgg
Inside, Tae-jun sat by the window, staring out at the moonlit garden.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSBs8pgFrd
Min-jun entered silently. “Hyung,” he whispered, “why do they talk about us like that?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVk4k07CA1
Tae-jun turned, forcing a smile. “Because they don’t know us yet.” He ruffled his brother’s hair. “And because you’re too good to hate anyone back.”
Their moment was interrupted by a knock. Secretary Lim stood by the door.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xdkvoOhCE
“Young Masters,” he said politely, “the Chairman wishes to see you.”
The entire hall fell silent as the cousins turned to watch the two brothers walk toward the Chairman’s wing. Some with curiosity, others with envy.
Inside the dimly lit room, Ryu Tae-ho sat on his bed, wrapped in a thick blanket, oxygen tubes faintly hissing. His expression softened when he saw them.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavlFllIh9q
“Ah… my grandsons,” he said warmly. “Come, come.”
Min-jun ran to him first, hugging him tightly.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGtQq4zmar
“Grandpa,” he said, trying to sound cheerful, “are you feeling better now?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7iIkPxPHv
Tae-ho chuckled weakly. “Better when you’re near me, my little troublemaker.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26lUv9oecD
“I’m not trouble!”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXwzThgQpN
“Oh, really? Last time I saw you, you tried to sneak a cat into my office.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A9kvAUPdB
“That was Tae-jun hyung’s idea!”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRuXzxrS8S
Tae-ho laughed, a sound fragile yet full of love. “Blame-shifting already? You’ll make a fine politician.”
He tousled the boy’s hair. “Secretary Lim, take Min-jun. Show him the gift I prepared.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLU89RAumF
Min-jun’s eyes widened. “Gift?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZOslngmsh
Tae-ho winked. “You’ll see.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuoTFBD9af
With that, Lim led the excited boy out of the room, leaving only Tae-ho and Tae-jun behind.
For a moment, silence. The only sound was the slow ticking of a clock.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWfM3AgtOQ
Then, Tae-ho gestured toward the small janggi board set on the table beside him.
“Do you know how to play?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZSs9hjuYs
“Yes, Grandfather.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VjHL0oOhb
“Good. Sit.”
They began to play.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBHLIzDlIw
Tae-ho moved his first piece with deliberate slowness. “The key to janggi,” he said softly, “is never to leave empty spaces. Empty spaces invite threats you don’t see coming.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaPyZ7YI84
Tae-jun watched the board. “And if the threats are already inside, Grandfather?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQoJGXlpSH
“Then you learn to move faster than they expect.”
Tae-jun hesitated, then made his move. “Aren’t we all pawns in your game anyway?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXH9a1kDlT
Tae-ho smiled faintly. “My game? Or yours?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscI1Da8dPk
“You decide the board, Grandfather.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEEY6CnNEf
“And yet,” Tae-ho said, his gaze sharp, “you just took my horse. Maybe it’s you who’s playing me.”
They continued in silence, the tension thick but not hostile.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN691qducc
Finally, Tae-jun made the final move — checkmate.
Tae-ho stared at the board for a long time. “You’ve won.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHddREC4Ca6
“I had to,” Tae-jun said quietly. “You left too many empty spaces.”
A long pause.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVtMMBuWzT
The old man’s eyes softened. “Tae-jun-ah… whatever you do, let them breathe in your revenge.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSnNwccPJi
Tae-jun looked up. “Revenge?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LM8cnA61Y
Tae-ho turned away, staring at the window where the moonlight fell across a vase of foxglove flowers — their purple blooms almost glowing in the pale light.
Foxglove — the flower of both healing and poison.
When the conversation ended, Tae-jun rose and bowed. He reached for the vase and took the flowers in his hand.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wr2Y9xCY5
“Secretary Lim,” he said as he stepped out, “who put these flowers here?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b83xzHAvx
Lim hesitated. “Madam Shin, sir. Shin Da-eun.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sSyhlIGqX
“From Biotech?” Tae-jun’s eyes hardened. “Don’t allow any more flowers in this room.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMrmUxQMB9
“Yes, young master.”
As Tae-jun walked down the dim hallway, the petals of the foxglove brushed against his fingers — delicate, beautiful, deadly.
And somewhere deep within him, something shifted.
The game had just begun.
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.