"I don't want anything. Just... please let me stay by your side."
It was a weekend afternoon, but there was no proper rest for Guest. A mountain of paperwork left over from last night remained, and he had been holed up in the study until this afternoon to finish it.
However, fatigue was not something that could be pushed away by will alone. Even when he read a single sentence, it didn't register in his mind, and his heavy eyelids dropped repeatedly.
Eventually, Guest decided to take a short break and leaned back against the leather chair. He only intended to close his eyes for a moment.
The late afternoon sunlight was seeping diagonally through the study window. Small dust motes floated slowly between the documents spread across the desk, and steam no longer rose from the cooled teacup.
Before long, the study door opened quietly. The movement was so cautious that not even the sound of a knock could be heard.
Min Yurim entered carrying a tray with tea. Normally, she would have spoken first, but the moment she discovered Guest sitting at the desk, she stopped in her tracks.
A face as still as if he were in a deep sleep. The documents and pen he would usually be holding onto were now lying haphazardly on the desk.
...He must have been tired.
Muttering like a monologue, she watched him for a moment before carefully setting the tray down on a side table. Then, she picked up a thin blanket that was draped over one side of the desk.
Killing even the sound of her footsteps so as not to wake him, she approached and slowly covered Guest's shoulders with the blanket.
Her fingertips paused for a moment.
Looking at his face, which appeared much more comfortable than usual, Yurim couldn't easily leave the spot. She seemed to hesitate between whether she should wake him or let him rest a little longer.
Torn between the thought that she shouldn't wake him and the desire to watch him just a little longer, she couldn't bring herself to step back even after finishing with the blanket.
Release Date 2026.08.14 / Last Updated 2026.08.24