Chapter 25: The Seven Virtues: Temperance

Temperance ultimately means living while suppressing desires.

Hye-yeon had opened her eyes to find herself the eldest daughter, living for her siblings as the big sister.

Of course, that didn’t mean her entire life would always be for others, but up to now, Hye-yeon’s life had been one of restraining her desires more than anyone else.

The life of the eldest, the firstborn, the responsible one…

I recalled the Seven Virtues series I’d written so far.

The series began with characters embodying the pinnacle of virtue in their fields, only to end in tragedy.

Hmm… I’ve never written this before.

One critic once said:

Adele Louis crafts long-form tales, unraveling humanity’s and society’s chronic issues in his own unique way.

Tragedy is both art and emotion, and Adele Louis adorns it more vividly than anyone.

That made me hesitate.

Can I write this?

It was just an ordinary daily life, the story of a child, a sister, a girl.

The Seven Virtues always ended in tragedy.

Because of that tragic pull, it gained its fanbase.

So, naturally, I wavered.

A happy ending… Would people read something so bland?

I didn’t know.

I saved the new emotion flickering in my chest like a candle, planning to mull over the vague ideas in my head.

But I couldn’t.

Should I try…?

With Hye-yeon beside me, eager to write, trying together didn’t seem so bad.

It was a new challenge, almost a gamble.

Starting was daunting.

“Uncle?”

“…”

“Uncle?”

Yeah? Oh… yeah.

Hye-yeon’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Let’s just try.

I was already clinging to writing without meaning anyway.

Knowing how vital that candle-like inspiration was, I decided to give it a shot.

Wanna write?

Hye-yeon nodded vigorously.

“Yes! I’ll get my laptop!”

Okay.

Having someone around usually ruined my focus and scattered my thoughts, but since I wasn’t writing well anyway, what did it matter?

With a quiet sigh, I turned to the computer.

Oh, bathroom.

I’d forgotten while talking.

I headed to the bathroom.

***

It was 3 a.m. before we could finally sleep.

Having stayed up so late, I couldn’t wake up in the morning.

Something sweet…

A vague sweet scent tickled my nose.

Butter? Flour? Unsure, I slowly opened my eyes.

What’s that smell?

Smelling food upon waking was new.

Morning?

The thought jolted me awake.

I checked my phone—already 10 a.m.

“Ugh…”

Realizing how late it was, I groaned.

I sat up quickly, but too fast, and my body ached.

What’re the kids doing?

I got out of bed, opened the door, and peeked out.

Hye-yeon and Yuri were bustling in the kitchen.

“Oh, Uncle, you’re up?”

“Ah! You’re awake? Come sit!”

Uh?

I sat at the table, dazed.

Hye-yeon brought over a pancake from the pan to a plate.

“Uncle! Milk or juice?”

Uh… juice.

Still groggy from sleep, I was out of it.

Yuri poured orange juice from the fridge and set it in front of me.

Meanwhile, Hye-yeon topped the pancake with bacon and maple syrup.

“Here, eat.”

The finished breakfast left me stunned.

You two… can cook?

“We can do simple stuff!”

Their mom couldn’t, but the kids could.

To help their busy mom, they decided to make at least breakfast.

They weren’t experts, but they managed basic meals.

Did Jiyu eat?

“Hehe! We fed Jiyu.”

On the sofa, Jiyu slept soundly, belly full.

I turned back to the table.

Simple food, but made by them—it was touching.

Sorry… I should’ve woken up earlier.

“It happens. Don’t feel bad. Oh, here’s some salad too.”

Yuri brought over a ready salad.

Plain lettuce with dressing, but I appreciated it.

Thanks, I’ll dig in.

“Enjoy!”

I cut into the pancake and took a bite.

The sweet maple syrup and soft texture were delicious.

I don’t usually like Western breakfasts… but this is good.

I wasn’t a fan of sweets in the morning.

I always had Korean food, but something about them making it made it taste great.

As I ate, the doorbell rang.

-Ding-dong!

Oh, he’s here.

Only one person was expected.

“I’ll get it.”

I started to stand, but Hye-yeon headed to the intercom.

There was only one possible visitor.

“It’s Ryan.”

“Yeah, Uncle Ryan. I’ll open the door.”

Sure.

With Yuri and Jiyu’s rooms to finish, Ryan had come early.

As Hye-yeon went to open the door, I finished my meal.

“What, eating breakfast?”

As I took my last bite of bacon, a voice came from behind.

Ryan eyed me, tools in hand.

Woke up late. Was writing.

“Writing? You?”

Yeah.

“You?”

What’s with you?

“No, I just… didn’t think you’d actually write.”

Ryan looked skeptical.

He had zero interest in writing, and knowing I hadn’t written in three years, it probably felt off.

“Oh? You wrote?”

Mijeong rushed out from the entrance, carrying Bessie and Roy.

“Why’re you here?”

To help… wait, you wrote? For real?

I nodded, chewing the bacon.

Wrote something. Not happy with it.

“Not happy?”

Yeah.

“Show me! Let me read it!”

No thanks.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to show her—it was embarrassing.

Mijeong was a former editor, so she had an eye for writing.

But what I wrote now was problematic.

It’s too different from my usual.

I usually wrote tragedies, but this was my first attempt at hope.

It wasn’t finished, so I didn’t want to share.

“Come on, show me. I’m great at spotting good writing.”

She was right.

She’d learned from Loony and had a natural knack.

If she hadn’t quit for marriage, she could’ve been a team lead at Bear Bookstore.

“You said it’s not good, but you wrote anyway? Then show it to someone you trust and let them judge. Isn’t that a good idea?”

You talk a good game.

She had a point.

When unsure, showing an editor was the surest way.

And Mijeong was trustworthy, so it’d be safe.

It’d ease my mind too.

This novel made me uneasy, so I wanted someone’s verdict.

As I hesitated, Mijeong glanced at Ryan.

“He’s building furniture, so go. Leave Bessie and Roy with the kids—I can handle them.”

Ryan took Bessie and Roy from her.

Grabbing my orange juice, I stood.

Let’s go to my room.

“Yay!”

We headed to the bedroom.

***

Mijeong Shin had dreamed of being a career woman and joined Bear Bookstore.

Training under the excellent Loony, she was on a fast track until she suddenly quit.

For one reason.

Man, Mijeong’s something else. Giving up everything for Ryan.

Back then, Ryan was like a wounded beast.

Loving him, she chose to abandon her dreams and live for him, moving to this remote village.

In the end, good is good.

Even after quitting, Mijeong’s love for writing didn’t fade.

She still chatted with Loony about works now and then.

I sipped my orange juice, watching her glare at the computer.

Since it was just the start, the story wasn’t set, so I figured it wouldn’t mean much.

But Mijeong read my writing more seriously than ever.

“Hoo…”

After about 30 minutes, she rubbed her eyes and looked away.

“This… is it Seven Virtues?”

Yeah, thinking of it as Temperance for now.

“Temperance… fits. It’s early, but yeah.”

Mijeong couldn’t hide her frown.

The Seven Virtues started beautifully but always ended in tragedy.

Knowing that, reading them never left her feeling great.

“But this… it’s not tragedy. Feels hopeful.”

Hopeful?

“Yeah. Not sure if that works.”

The series’ fans loved the tragedy.

The overwhelming prose created a thick fanbase through its melancholy.

Starting with hope was a huge gamble.

“Send it to Loony.”

You think so too?

“Yeah. I like it, but the publisher should decide.”

I nodded.