I Became My Ex-Boyfriend’s Concubine - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 11

A searing pain bloomed across her neck.
It hurt. It hurt terribly.
The last thing she’d seen was a blade rising above her head.
Did that mean she was dead? Had that sword struck her neck clean through? Was that why it hurt like this?
‘Wait—dead? But this is a game.’
Danbi’s eyes snapped open.
It was a familiar space. Four walls hemming her in—a small chamber barely wide enough to sit in.
“This is…….”
A small window beside her slid open. A recognizable face peered through from outside.
“Miss! We’re almost there now! Just hold on a little longer!”
After a moment, the Palanquin came to a halt, and Danbi stepped out.
“Miss, are you feeling queasy, perhaps? You seem to be unwell somewhere…….”
Sol looked around with a bewildered expression. Something felt oddly familiar.
No—it was identical.
Elegant tile roofs instead of concrete, earthen paths instead of asphalt, everyone dressed in traditional garments.
“Hey, these pair bracelets are cheap! Cheap!”
“Come take a look!”
Danbi gazed blankly at the objects scattered along the roadside.
“Sol. What were we doing?”
“What were we doing? We were riding in the Palanquin, heading toward the palace, Miss.”
Danbi grabbed Sol’s shoulder and cried out.
“What are you talking about! We were just inside the palace!”
“Inside the palace, Miss?”
Sol tilted her head in confusion.
“We were on our way to receive your Concubine Appointment, weren’t we?”
Danbi sank to the ground with a stunned expression. Yes, a game reset was certainly something that could happen.
But the problem was that window floating in the air since moments ago.

「Cannot quit the game.」

Danbi stared up at the blue window in disbelief.
“Am I…… trapped inside the game right now?”

***

Beneath a gleaming chandelier, elaborate dishes adorned the long table.
The man cut into his steak methodically with a knife, and rich juices ran along the grain, staining his plate crimson.
A low voice emerged from his lips.
“When did you decide on the date?”
Harin turned over a piece of steak in her mouth before answering.
“We set it for the end of next month.”
“Isn’t that a bit soon? It might be better to give yourself more time…….”
“October is apparently when most people do it. Don’t worry so much, Mom.”
Harin linked her arm through Hyeon’s, who sat beside her.
“If it were up to me, I’d marry this one tomorrow—I’m just barely holding back.”
“This girl says such things without any embarrassment.”
Hyeon’s expression grew awkward as the woman’s face flushed with mortification.
“Ha ha ha!”
The man laughed heartily.
“If your hearts are in accord, then sooner is better. And you’ve had a good talk with this young man?”
He glanced sideways at Hyeon, who noticed the look and quietly set down her utensil on the table.
She was about to answer when——
Buzz, buzz.
A vibration hummed from her pocket. Checking discreetly below the table, the name ‘Sol’ glowed clearly across the screen.
Hyeon frowned and ended the call. She hurriedly tucked her phone away and smiled toward the man.
“Of course, Chairman. I’m eager to walk down the aisle with Harin as well.”
“Right. You two must’ve handled it well enough. Come to my office next week, and I’ll have Kim, my secretary, expect you.”
Hyun’s face betrayed confusion as she glanced back and forth between Harin and the man. He spoke matter-of-factly.
“You need to begin the handover now if I’m to pass the position to you before year’s end.”
“……!!”
“Father! Is that really true?”
Harin brightened at the man’s words, then seized Hyun’s arm.
“Hyun, this is wonderful.”
“Are you displeased?”
When Hyun said nothing, the man’s eyebrows rose sharply.
“No, no. It’s just so sudden…….”
“Even I was surprised, and Hyun must be in shock too, right?”
“You traitor. Abandoning your old man to take your husband’s side already?”
All three of them except Hyun laughed aloud.
Hyun made a halfhearted attempt to laugh along, then grew cautious, searching their faces before speaking.
“I, Chairman, actually…….”
Buzz. Buzz.
But before she could get another word out, her pocket vibrated again.
Hyun quickly checked her phone under the table. Of course—it was Soma again.
She reluctantly rose from her seat.
“I’m sorry. I need to take this call…….”
She fled the Dining Room and ducked into a quiet corner of the Corridor, checking her surroundings before urgently pressing the answer button.
“Hello—”
[Why won’t you pick up?!]
At the voice crackling through the phone, Hyun’s brow furrowed and she lowered her voice.
“I’m busy right now. We’ll talk later.”
She was about to hang up decisively when Soma’s voice came pouring out, dizzying in its urgency.
Hyun’s face began to harden.

“Hyun, what’s wrong?”
A moment later, when Hyun returned to the Dining Room, Harin asked with evident concern.
Instead of sitting down as they’d expected, she began gathering her belongings. All her usual composure was gone.
Three pairs of eyes fixed on her as if by agreement.
“I’m sorry. Something’s come up. I need to leave.”
Hyun bowed respectfully to the man and woman.
“Wait, please! Hyun! Hyun!”
Ignoring the calls behind her, she hurried toward the door. Her footsteps rang sharp and bright against the polished marble floor.

***

Soma gazed anxiously at the bed before her. The hands clasped together trembled faintly, unable to hide her unease.
Then the footsteps that had echoed through the silent Corridor grew clearer, and the Hospital Room door burst open roughly.
She turned to see Hyun rushing in, breathless. The moment Soma caught sight of her, she leaped from her chair.
“What happened?”
Instead of answering, Soma threw herself at Hyun, striking her chest repeatedly with both hands.
Hyun moved to stop her, but when she saw that Soma’s eyes were swollen red, she fell silent.
“Why didn’t you answer Danbi’s calls?”
“……Calls?”
“Three days ago. Danbi kept calling you—why didn’t you pick up?!”
Hyun said nothing and moved toward the bed.
Danbi lay there, a Respirator attached, her pallid face fragile as if it might shatter at any moment.
“She’s in a Coma.”
Hyun spun back around at the unexpected words.
“What? What do you mean?”
“I don’t know either! I don’t know!”
Danbi was the kind of woman who called every day without fail, chattering away. When her phone inexplicably went silent for a whole day, Soma simply went to her house.

“Danbi! Danbi!”

And there on the sofa, she found Danbi collapsed, something draped over her. Soma rushed to her immediately.

“Danbi! Come to your senses! Danbi!”

That had been hours ago. Som stared at Hyun with sharp, accusing eyes.
“You knew Danbi hasn’t come to work these past few days. So how could you not think to go check on her even once?”
“…….”
“Eight years. You’ve known each other for a full eight years! No matter what—even if you’re broken up now—how could a person change so completely in an instant?”
Hyun endured Som’s torrent of words in silence, then turned and left the Hospital Room. The weight of her resentful gaze followed him through the door.
“Ha…….”
In the cold, quiet Corridor, he pulled his phone from his pocket.
Twelve missed calls.
Four days ago—Danbi’s repeated outgoing calls, the records still crisp and clear.

“Why are you suddenly doing this to me? What did I do so wrong to deserve this? You owe me an explanation, at least!”

Hyun exhaled slowly and leaned against the wall.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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