(Three Days Later)
Tuesday
[Kim Residence, Seoul
7:00 AM]
The morning sunlight poured through the dining room windows, casting a warm glow across the quiet residence.
The house felt noticeably calmer.
Two days earlier, Jina, Nayeon, and little Seoah had left for their week-long trip.
Only Taekyun, Haru and Taeha remained at home.
Taekyun was already dressed for work.
He sat at the dining table after finishing breakfast, calmly reviewing his schedule on the iPad resting in front of him.
A few moments later.
Soft footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Haru came downstairs, fully dressed in her school uniform with her backpack hanging neatly over one shoulder.
Bora smiled warmly the moment she saw her.
"Good morning, Haru."
Haru gave a polite nod.
"Good morning."
"I'll bring your breakfast."
"Go and sit first."
Haru nodded before walking toward the dining table.
Stopping beside Taekyun, she bowed her head slightly.
"Good morning, Abbuji."
Taekyun looked up from the iPad smiled softly.
"Morning."
He gave a small nod toward the chair beside him.
"Sit."
"Yes."
Haru quietly took her seat.
Just then.
Another pair of footsteps could be heard descending the stairs.
One of the household staff carefully led little Taeha downstairs.
Unlike his usual energetic self.
Taeha looked unusually sleepy.
Still dressed neatly in his kindergarten uniform, he rubbed his eyes with both little fists while walking.
The moment he spotted Taekyun.
"Abba....."
He hurried over with tiny steps.
Taekyun immediately put the iPad aside.
"Come here, Taeha."
Instead of climbing onto his lap immediately, Taeha first looked at Haru with a tiny pout before turning back to his father.
Haru smiled faintly.
"Taeha."
"Say good morning first."
Before the little boy could answer.
Taekyun gently shook his head.
"It's alright."
"Let him."
Still rubbing one eye, Taeha quietly walked between Taekyun's legs before burying his little face against his father's stomach.
Without a word.
Taekyun lifted him effortlessly onto his lap.
He gently caught Taeha's tiny hands before they could rub his eyes again.
"Don't rub your eyes."
His voice remained soft as he enclosed Taeha's little hand inside his own.
Haru quietly observed him for a moment.
Then her gaze settled on Taeha's eyes.
"Abbuji."
"His eye color."
Taekyun looked down.
The familiar brilliant golden color had faded slightly.
Instead, faint hazel tones had begun mixing around his irises.
He nodded calmly.
"I noticed."
"It's okay."
[Golden Alphas possessed unusually stable golden irises.
However.
Whenever their bodies became exhausted, developed a fever, or simply weren't feeling well.
The brilliant gold would temporarily lose its brightness, slowly blending into warm hazel shades until they recovered.
It wasn't dangerous.
It was simply one of the natural characteristics unique to Golden Alphas.]
"Abba."
Taeha called softly.
"Hm?"
"Don't wanna go...."
Taekyun gently rested his palm against the little boy's forehead.
His temperature felt only slightly warm.
Nothing serious.
Looking toward Haru, he spoke calmly.
"You and Taeha will go with the driver today."
"I'll finish my meeting early."
"Then I'll pick both of you up myself."
Haru looked at Taekyun.
"Are we going somewhere?"
Taekyun nodded once.
"Yes."
"We'll spend some time together outside."
Haru quietly nodded.
"Okay."
Still leaning comfortably against his father, Taeha looked up with brightening eyes.
"Abba."
"Hm?"
"Can you buy me....."
He thought seriously for a moment before smiling.
"a Galaxy Ranger Bot?"
Taekyun smiled faintly.
"Alright."
"I'll buy one for you."
The little boy's face immediately brightened.
"Really?"
"Hm."
Taekyun gently patted his head.
"After kindergarten."
Taeha nodded enthusiastically.
Then Taekyun looked toward Bora.
"Bora."
"Please go with Taeha to kindergarten today."
"After dropping him off, come back with the driver."
Bora nodded politely.
"Understood, Sir."
"I will."
Hearing about his new toy had completely improved Taeha's mood.
The little boy finally began eating his breakfast properly, chatting quietly with Haru in his soft little voice while she occasionally reminded him to chew slowly.
Just then.
Taekyun's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen before standing up.
He leaned down first, placing a gentle kiss on Haru's forehead.
Then he kissed Taeha's forehead as well.
"I'll see both of you this afternoon."
"Be good."
"Yes, Abbuji," Haru answered.
"Okay, Abba!" Taeha replied happily.
Picking up his iPad and car keys, Taekyun headed toward the entrance.
After watching him leave, Bora walked over carrying another bowl.
She sat beside Taeha, helping him with the rest of his breakfast.
"Eat quickly, both of you."
"You'll be late if you keep talking."
Taeha immediately stuffed another spoonful into his mouth.
Haru couldn't help smiling slightly before continuing her own breakfast.
[Eunoia]
Two days had passed since the court hearing.
Haneul had officially been released from judicial detention.
However.
His case was far from over.
The World Court had granted him only one week before making its final decision.
The judges had made their position painfully clear.
> "No citizen of Eunoia is permitted to permanently leave this world."
> "Attempting to cross into another world without authorization is a direct violation of World Law."
> "Any further attempt will result in a punishment far more severe than the previous sentence."
Those words still echoed inside Haneul's mind.
What complicated everything even further
was his child(Taeha).
After reviewing Haneul's memories through the Chrono-Memory Observation System, the judges had discovered.
Haneul had given birth to a child.
A child whose father belonged to another world.
A powerful Golden Alpha.
According to Eunoia's ancient laws.
Taeha possessed mixed blood.
Half carried the pure lineage of Eunoia.
The other half belonged to another universe entirely.
Nothing like this had ever happened before.
No law existed for such a child.
Because of that.
the court suspended the final verdict.
A special judicial investigation was opened.
Officers were dispatched to collect every possible detail regarding Kim Taekyun.
and Kim Taeha.
Until a conclusion could be reached.
Haneul would remain inside Eunoia under supervision.
Officer Doyeon had officially been assigned temporary guardianship over him.
Since Haneul no longer had a place to live.
he would stay in Doyeon's government quarters.
Before dismissing them, the Chief Judge had delivered one final warning.
"If the court decides to allow permanent departure."
"You will lose every memory related to Eunoia."
"You will live forever in that other world."
"But."
"If the court rejects your request."
"You will remain here."
"And every memory connected to that other world."
"will be erased permanently."
Those words had shattered Haneul.
He had begged.
He had cried.
He had pleaded until his voice became hoarse.
No one listened.
World Law was never changed by tears.
[Two Days Later]
For the past two days.
Haneul had been living with Doyeon.
The officer occupied a modest government apartment reserved for Judicial Division members.
It wasn't luxurious.
But it was warm, comfortable and quiet.
Every morning Doyeon left for duty.
Every evening he returned carrying groceries or small snacks.
He cooked.
He cleaned.
He constantly asked if Haneul needed anything.
He tried.
He truly tried... to make Haneul smile.
Yet Doyeon understood something long ago.
It wasn't loneliness that hurt Haneul.
It wasn't fear.
It was longing.
Five years of punishment had never erased a single memory.
Instead.
they had only trapped him inside them.
The pain of never seeing Taeha.
Never hearing Haru call him.
Never standing beside Taekyun again.
was slowly consuming him from within.
Even then.....
Haneul pretended everything was alright.
Every morning.....
he smiled politely.
Every night.....
he cried where no one could see.
The apartment door unlocked.
It was already evening.
Doyeon stepped inside after finishing another long shift.
He stopped the moment he entered.
The dining table had already been prepared.
Simple homemade dishes filled the table.
Soup.
Rice.
A few side dishes.
Haneul was quietly arranging the chopsticks.
The moment he noticed Doyeon...
he looked up.
"You're back. "
He nodded
"This...?"
"I made dinner....."
he said softly.
Doyeon blinked.
Then sighed helplessly.
"Haneul."
"I told you not to tire yourself."
He placed his bag down before walking over.
"I can cook after I get home."
"And didn't I tell you."
"If you're hungry, just call the Quarter Kitchen downstairs?"
"They'll send food immediately."
Haneul lowered his eyes.
"I wanted....."
"to cook."
His voice was almost apologetic.
Doyeon's expression softened instantly.
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Don't think you're a burden."
"I already told you."
"I actually feel happy....."
"seeing you around."
He laughed nervously.
"Oh...."
"I.... I mean...."
He waved both hands in embarrassment.
"It just....."
"It feels nice having someone in the house."
Haneul quietly nodded.
After a moment....
he asked,
"Don't you have...."
"a mate?"
"Or"
"someone you're dating?"
Doyeon froze.
His ears immediately turned red.
"Oh....."
"Um"
"N-No....no"
"Actually"
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I....."
"never really."
His words became more tangled the more he tried to explain.
Watching him struggle.
Haneul couldn't help it.
A small smile slowly appeared on his face.
It was gentle.
Natural.
Doyeon stared at him.
For a few seconds.
he completely forgot to breathe.
Although Doyeon was a tall, broad-shouldered alpha with an intimidating appearance.
Whenever he stood in front of Haneul.
he somehow became unbelievably awkward.
Like a young man experiencing his first crush.
Always stiff.
Always nervous.
Always speaking without thinking.
His cheeks slowly turned pink.
He immediately lowered his head and hurriedly began eating his rice to hide his embarrassment.
Then, almost under his breath.
he muttered,
"You"
"should smile more."
"It really suits you."
Haneul blinked.
"What?"
Doyeon's eyes widened.
He nearly choked on his food.
"I-I mean....."
He quickly pointed at the dishes.
"Eat"
"The food"
"It tastes better while it's hot."
"Let's eat first."
Still flustered.....
he buried his face in his bowl, making Haneul quietly blink in confusion before lowering his eyes toward the meal.