Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Cho Shiye paced through their room, agitated. This is the first time she'll meet Kim Hae-yoon's uncle, she met Kim Hae-yoon's relatives at the wedding before but she's way too distracted and exhausted that the memories of their talk was a blur.

'And besides, they're so passive aggressive with me anyways that I didn't bother to listen to everything they've said.' Cho Shiye thought as she pondered.

Kim Hae-yoon seemed to like this uncle of hers a lot, so she wanted to be presentable and have a nice first appearance with him.

'Is my dress too flashy?' Cho Shiye looked around the mirror. 'Or is it pretty basic?' Cho Shiye sighed as she sat down on the couch.

Kim Hae-yoon has asked her a million times if she's sure about meeting him and she can decline if she doesn't feel comfortable, but she really wants to meet the man Kim Hae-yoon respects a lot.

'She seemed way too excited when she's chatting with me earlier, I wonder what expression she had on her face at that time… I bet it's very cute.' Cho Shiye blushed realizing what she had just thought.

Cho Shiye heard a knock as she jolted and tidied her appearance. She coughed and told the other person to come in as she was greeted by Kim Hae-yoon who went straight at her and held both of her hands.

"Shiye, are you sure you want to do this? You can still decline, you're still recovering and I don't want you to get hurt…" Kim Hae-yoon urged with a worried look on her face.

Kim Hae-yoon had always been like this for the past 2 weeks, she didn't let her exert much strength and was treating her like a patient with an incurable illness and couldn't function without a 24/7 supervision.

'It's honestly quite exhausting and boring being treated like this.' Cho Shiye thought as she recalled how much of a scaredy cat Kim Hae-yoon would be every time she would react in a negative way.

'But, it's so cute seeing her do her best to make me happy, still, she should tone it down a bit…' After a long pause, she looked at Kim Hae-yoon with a frown.

"If you keep dissuading me," she paused thinking about how she could threaten this alpha who clung to her every second she got.

Noticing that Kim Hae-yoon was holding her hand, an idea struck her mind.

"I won't let you hold my hand anymore." Cho Shiye threatened with a smile as Kim Hae-yoon looked at her in shock, feeling as if her life was falling apart.

She sighed and scratched the back of her head, she really wanted her to meet her uncle but, that uncle of hers is her cousin's father so this would be quite awkward for the two of them.

'And she just started therapy… I don't want to stress her any further but then again, it's me who invited her to meet my uncle. The fault truly lies with me.' she sighed.

"Alright, alright, but, if you feel uncomfortable, just say it, alright?" Kim Hae-yoon asked as Cho Shiye nodded.

"I promise."

*****

Kim Hae-yoon entered the dining hall with her hands clasped around Cho Shiye's hands, not wanting to let go, as she held it like it's a treasure that she didn't want to be taken away.

'Is holding my hand really that important for her?' Cho Shiye was quite amused as she chuckled lightly.

Kim Dong-cheol who saw the scene couldn't help but laugh.

'It seems like my little niece loves her wife a lot.' He smiled fondly, remembering the days of when Kim Hae-yoon was young.

'She used to act this cute when it came to her precious toys too, she won't even let me hold them saying my hands are dirty and it's quite big so it'll hurt them.' Kim Dong-cheol remembered with a smile.

Kim Hae-yoon helped Cho Shiye to her seat unaware of the thoughts of the two people beside her as she smiled.

"Uncle, this is my wife, Cho Shiye." Cho Shiye reached out her hands towards him as she smiled politely. "Shiye, this is my uncle, Kim Dong-cheol." Kim Dong-cheol shook her hands and smiled fondly.

"This would be our first time meeting, right? It's very nice to meet you, yorr royal consort." He spoke. "And, I'm sorry for not being able to attend the wedding, I just came back from my business trip." He had an apologetic expression as Cho Shiye smiled.

Hearing his name, Cho Shiye twitched and frowned slightly before recovering.

'That name sounds oddly familiar… Where have I heard it before?'

"No need for apologies, uncle." She replied curtly as Kim Dong-cheol's smiles became wider.

"My, my, your royal consort is way too kind! My niece is too lucky to have you!" He laughed as Cho Shiye and Kim Hae-yoon both blushed.

"Ahem, anyways, let's eat before the food turns cold." Kim Hae-yoon changed the topic as they all took their chopsticks and ate.

Kim Hae-yoon and her uncle continued to converse about the food, praising it and such that Cho Shiye didn't bother to listen as she tried to recall where she had heard his name.

'Kim Dong-cheol… Kim Dong-cheol… Ah! He's Kim Yun-hee's father, the 13th son of late emperor Kim Gi-cheol!'

Cho Shiye looked at Kim Hae-yoon conflicted, asking herself why Kim Hae-yoon never told her about this before they had a meal.

'Then again, she did ask me if I wanted to meet him.' Cho Shiye tightened her grip on Kim Hae-yoon's hands that made the alpha look at her. 'But, still, she should've explained better.'

Kim Hae-yoon noticed that Cho Shiye seemed to be pissed at her as she scratched her cheeks and smiled nervously and darted her gaze towards her uncle.

"Ahem, uncle, you went on a business trip, right? How did it go?" Kim Hae-yoon asked as Kim Dong-cheol put down his glass.

"Well, it didn't go as well as I thought it would." He smiled wryly and sighed. "I'll send the report to you later and report it formally in front of everyone tomorrow, for now, let's just focus on eating and hanging out like old times." He smiled cheekily as he poured a glass of wine on Kim Hae-yoon's glass.

Kim Hae-yoon gulped it down and nodded.

"You're right, uncle." She replied. "Anyways, you just came back and I'm sure you miss the bustling capital so, I'll accompany you later at the bar."

"Now, that's what I'm waiting for! Be sure to keep your wallet thick as I'll go all out tonight!" Kim Dong-cheol's boastfulness made Kim Hae-yoon chuckled.

Her uncle wasn't like this before, he would never even come to bars or drink unless it was for formal events. Kim Hae-yoon could still remember what Kim Dong-cheol was like in the past.

He's family oriented and would rather spend his rest days at home to bond with his wife, concubines, and kids. But, after that incident, he changed.

Kim Dong-cheol suddenly became a workaholic and if not at work, he would stay holed up inside his room, refusing to meet everyone nor eat and if it wasn't for Kim Hae-yoon barging inside his room, he would've died.

It took him a long time before he could fully recover but, with the help of his family and therapy, he managed to become well.

'But because of that, he often comes to bars to destress from time to time.' Kim Hae-yoon sighed.

"But, be sure to drink in moderation, you still have to report to me and the council tomorrow." Kim Hae-yoon reminded him as her uncle laughed.

"Yes, yes, your majesty." He chuckled and looked at Cho Shiye who's quietly eating her fill, unbothered by the noise as he coughed in embarrassment.

'What an unsightly sight for my niece in law to see.'

"My apologies for the noise, your royal consort. I must've been a disturbance." He smiled apologetically as Cho Shiye looked at him.

'This family tends to smile a lot, huh?' Cho Shiye thought as she smiled in amusement.

"No need, uncle. I'm actually happy that you two get along so well." She replied. "And, please, don't be too formal with me, uncle. I may be the empress' consort but I'm now a member of your family so, please, be casual with me." She smiled warmly with Kim Dong-cheol.

'He doesn't seem to be a bad person.' Cho Shiye thought.

"My, have I been too awkward? If you don't mind, then, I'll start calling you my little niece!" He laughed as Cho Shiye nodded with a smile.

'He's quite fun.'