This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 184

‘…Three, is it?’

As Yoonseo struggled to accept the sudden turn of events accompanied by such murmurings, the other person involved also received news related to their shared living situation.

Towering buildings seemed to pierce the sky, and on the top floor of a particularly high building, which was so high that it could overlook even those structures, was a pool filled to the brim with water.

If people knew about it, they would surely scoff at the owner’s vanity and extravagance, wondering why they would waste money building a pool in such a place… But that was not going to happen.

It couldn’t be helped.

Very few people knew about this facility.

Only the Association Chairman and a select few of his direct staff.

Only they were aware of this facility.

However, that didn’t mean they were the owners of this facility.

In the truest sense, only one person could be considered its true user.

Splash—

The sound echoing through the pool was reminiscent of the soft thudding of a rain boot splashing in a puddle on a drizzly day.

And at the center of this ripple was a girl.

The glowing evening sun streamed through the large open window, illuminating the girl’s form.

Perhaps due to this, the girl’s hair, dyed bright yellow, shimmered even more radiantly.

She wore a swimsuit but didn’t seem inclined to enter the water.

Perched at the edge of the pool, she playfully dipped her feet into the gently rippling water, then pulled them out repeatedly.

Every time she shifted her body slightly, a slightly worn bracelet on her wrist sparkled.

“Hmph…”

Perhaps enjoying the gentle splashes as they made contact with her partially submerged feet, a faint smile lingered on the girl’s face, tinted with a hint of blush.

However, that smile didn’t last long.

As the sound of the door creaking open echoed in the pool area, the smile on the girl’s face evaporated without a trace.

And her expression, which had just moments ago been brimming with warmth, turned icy to the point it was hard to believe it belonged to the same person.

It couldn’t be helped.

For the girl who considered herself unfortunate, time spent in the pool was almost her only joy.

Thus, she loathed being interrupted during this time with a passion.

That was also why, in manuals created for those in charge of caring for her, there existed a clear instruction that stated: “Never disturb or interfere during her time at the pool.”

And for those who broke that unwritten taboo?

Without fail, the girl’s wrath would be unleashed.

This time was no exception, and it was expected to happen as well… But before the girl could unleash her boiling anger, the staff member responsible for her care spoke up first.

“It’s a message from the Association Chairman.”

The words that flowed from the staff’s lips, whose expression was unusually cold and businesslike, managed to shut the girl’s mouth, which had just begun to open.

It was inevitable.

The mention of someone through the staff member carried significant weight; it was the only being the girl couldn’t defy, despite considering most others beneath her.

Maybe that’s why.

“…What is it?”

What finally slipped from the girl’s lips, which had repeatedly opened and closed, was a voice mixed with resignation and pent-up fury.

The sight of the girl, who was usually stubbornly independent, seeming small in the face of her superior, was quite a sight.

The woman who had come to deliver the command felt her lips quiver slightly as she recalled her mission.

Yet, it was unlikely that it would bloom into a full smile.

It wouldn’t have been possible, given that she understood.

This was the only moment she could gain the upper hand over the girl.

And what would happen after this moment passed?

She would return to a state of being constantly on edge, trying to keep the girl appeased.

Thinking of that made her suppress any urge to smile.

“Ugh…”

This is not how hard I worked to end up in this position.

When I moved to a team that the Chairman personally managed, I thought it would be smooth sailing from there, but here I was, catering to this brat’s whims.

“Is she really the Chairman’s daughter?”

A wave of skepticism washed over me, bringing back memories of the rumors that circulated among the team members.

But regardless of whether those claims held any truth, I had to carry out the instructions I received.

“Prepare for the move.”

What I spat out while looking the girl directly in the eye was all for that purpose.

Then, a movement in the girl’s eyebrows, which had remained silent, confirmed my words just moments later.

It couldn’t be helped.

The girl disliked that term immensely.

No, to say she disliked it was an understatement; she despised it.

Maybe that’s why.

“Why?”

Her inquiry regarding the reason was laced with an undeniable chill.

Her expression conveyed the same.

The woman swallowed hard as she felt the weight of that gaze.

“I don’t really know. That’s all I was told…”

“Ha! Of course, you wouldn’t.”

As if she were mocking me, the girl scoffed and sprang up.

She dashed towards the changing room, which was built solely for her, connected to the pool.

The moment she stepped inside, she opened the locker and retrieved her mobile phone.

As soon as she grasped the phone, the screen illuminated, and notifications piled up in her view, having arrived during her time spent in the pool.

Perhaps due to seeing unwanted messages, her already stiff facial expression hardened.

“Damn it…”

With a flick of her finger, she shoved aside everything that cluttered the screen.

Then she called the only number saved on her phone.

Riiiiing—

The sound of dialing resonated from her mobile.

The call connected just after the third ring.

A click echoed from the phone’s speaker.

And then came the overly familiar voice.

-What’s up?

Was she genuinely asking that out of ignorance?

The usual tone of voice managed to halt her words in their tracks.

“…Do I really need to move?”

To continue speaking, she had to force her voice out.

The moment she finally managed to squeeze out a response, the voice gently resonated again.

-Bora.

“That voice” echoed in her ears.

-You need to listen.

Her heart froze—a tone that seemed similar to her usual one, but slightly lower.

It paralyzed her.

She couldn’t even consider the thought of rebellion.

“Ah, I’ll… understand. I’ll do it.”

It wrote itself into inevitability.

Through everything that had transpired, she had learned long ago.

At other times, it didn’t matter.

At other times, it was just fine, but… when that ‘voice’ emerged, she absolutely could not defy it.

What if she did?

“Someone… would get hurt.”

And that someone would most likely be her mom or dad.

Even if they were unbearable, mom was still mom, and dad was still dad.

She couldn’t let them get hurt.

“Rather…”

It would be so good if she could simply ignore the messages, like things she’d rather not see… but that was impossible.

So once again, she could only come to a harsh realization.

“A princess, huh…”

She was merely a tool.

Just something to be taken out and used occasionally.

So she would follow this time as well.

There was no way a tool could refuse a master’s command.

-Are you upset?

“…No.”

Even if she said she was upset, what would change?

So that is how she responded, but the return was some unexpected words.

-Don’t think too harshly of it. The new place you’re moving to might be quite interesting for you too.

“…”

-It will be helpful.

What was she thinking, sending her to who knows where?

One thing was certain—no matter where she was sent, it would never be fun.

To begin with, she already disliked the fact that she was moving, so how could that possibly happen?

So whatever the Association Chairman said would never come to pass.

Absolutely never.