DISCLAIMER: The author's imagination and passion are the only sources of inspiration for this novel, which is a work of dedication. Parallels between these pages and the past or present may be apparent to some readers, but they are completely coincidental. You are free to interpret this art anyway you see fit, and it is meant for your enjoyment.
Ji-Hoon presented a vision of an idealized world, while Giywon offered a dream, and Dyierrean offered a stronghold. He did not take Reinn to a cave or a villa on the day of the vow. He invited her to the "Innovation Wing" of Hylde Manor, which he had fully renovated with holographic interfaces, sleek white panels, and a high-tech elegance.
Ji-Hoon gave her a cup of expertly prepared tea and remarked, "I've spent a lot of time thinking about your 'Legacy' comment." His shirtsleeves were rolled up, his suit jacket was off, and he had the appearance of a man who had spent the entire night working on a subject that was dear to his heart. "Most families leave behind land or titles. I want to leave behind an Advantage."
When Ji-Hoon tapped a glass console, the room was filled with a three-dimensional hologram. It was a chart of a family ecosystem rather than a monarchy.
"This is my proposal for our home," he clarified. "It's a self-sustaining environment. I've integrated modern educational modules with the magic of this world. Our children wouldn't just be 'heirs.' They would be polymaths. I've designed a curriculum that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and empathy—the things I had to learn the hard way in a boardroom."
He zoomed in on a portion of the hologram that indicates "Collaborative Workshop. I don't want a nursery where they are tucked away with a nanny. I want a home where we learn alongside them. I want to be a father who understands their curiosities, not just their grades."
His face was serious as he turned to face Reinn. "I'm not a man of tradition, Samantha. I don't care about bloodlines. I care about the person our child becomes. I want to give them the freedom to choose their own path, backed by every resource my world and yours can provide."
Ji-Hoon's decision to show off his "Smart-Nursery" prototype momentarily interrupted the serious presentation.
He declared with pride, "I've developed an AI-assisted lullaby generator. It analyzes the infant's heart rate and breathing to compose the perfect sleep frequency."
He hit a button. Rather than a gentle melody, the room was filled with a booming, artificial bass that sounded less like cradle music and more like a Seoul techno club. Then, using the speed of a high-velocity windshield wiper, a mechanical arm fitted with a teddy bear started to "soothe" a test mannequin.
Reinn said, "Ji-Hoon," trying not to chuckle. "I think you've accidentally built a centrifuge, not a crib."
Ji-Hoon murmured, "The calibration is... clearly still in beta," as he desperately tapped his tablet to halt the bear's vibration. "I may have set the 'efficiency' parameter too high."
They sat on a balcony with a view of the manor's courtyard after the machines had stopped. The room's modern technology made it feel more like a bridge to a better life than a cold office.
"You're always looking at the data, Ji-Hoon," Reinn murmured. "But what happens when the data fails? What happens when our child is just... sad? Or afraid?"
Ji-Hoon glanced at his hands before turning to face her. "That's why I need you. I can build the world, but I'm still learning how to live in it. In Seoul, I thought love was a transaction. Now I know it's a shared project with no 'exit strategy.' I don't want to optimize you, Samantha. I want you to be the one thing in my life I can't predict."
A stray hair was carefully tucked behind her ear by his outstretched hand. "I offer you a life where you never have to worry about the 'how.' I will handle the logistics, the security, and the planning. You just have to be the heart of it. Can you trust me to build that for you?"
Reinn studied the blueprints. Ji-Hoon was offering her a future in which she might at last cease being a warrior and become a mentor, not a crown or a shield.