His absurd statement left me momentarily stunned. Was this man really saying that my father had essentially sold me off?
“Then… does that mean this money too—?”
“It’s the remaining balance for the painting. The artwork was too valuable for a mere arrangement fee.”
“Wait, hold on. Are you saying you’ve already paid for my labor as well?”
“Not entirely, but yes, a portion was included in the painting’s price.”
Unbelievable. Who had given permission for that?
I tried taking a deep breath to calm down, but it didn’t work.
“Sorry, but I haven’t heard a single word about this. How does this even make sense? I’m not some slave or animal you can trade around!”
“Relax. I’m not planning to force you into any difficult tasks.”
“It’s not about difficulty! It’s about the fact I never agreed to this! You get that, right?”
“Alright, I understand. Please calm down. You’re overly agitated.”
“Calm down?! How could I possibly calm down when you’re saying something this ridiculous!”
I couldn’t control my temper any longer and ended up spinning around in frustration. That alone wasn’t enough, so I hurled a string of curses with each turn. The man flinched slightly at each outburst.
“Perhaps you should sit down again. Your language is rather coarse.”
“So what? Have you ever given me a single coin to justify telling me how to speak?”
“…I suppose not.”
Although briefly startled by my reaction, he quickly regained his composure and spoke again, firmly and decisively.
“Anyway, you’ll have to work here for two years. The contract has already been finalized.”
“Don’t give me that nonsense. And what’s with hiding your face while we’re discussing something so important?”
That damned mask was really getting on my nerves now. Its expressionless straight mouth somehow felt like it was mocking me. Maybe if I ripped it off, we could finally have a genuine conversation.
“This mask isn’t something I can remove easily. Please understand.”
“Oh, really? Is your situation somehow more important than mine, considering I was dragged here and sold off?”
“Enough already. Fine, I’ll adjust the contract however you want.”
He must’ve sensed the madness seeping from me as I advanced toward him because he hurriedly shouted out. But it was too late. I grabbed his mask and murmured coldly.
“Didn’t anyone teach you as a child to look people in the eyes when you’re speaking?”
“Let go. I’m saying this for your own good.”
“For my good, my ass. We’ve never even met before—since when do you care?”
Turns out, that broad chest of his wasn’t just for show. No matter how hard I pulled, the mask didn’t even budge under his grip.
“I’m serious. Don’t make yourself regret this.”
“Bullshit.”
“Unbelievable. How can a woman speak like a construction worker and have this kind of brute strength?”
“Who the hell are you calling a woman? Sure, I’m pretty enough to be mistaken for one, but I’m clearly a man!”
“What did you just…?”
At that moment, I felt his grip weaken. I seized the opportunity and swiftly snatched the mask away. Finally, the face hidden beneath was revealed.
But…
“Another mask?”
A mask beneath a mask—this guy sure was thorough. Unlike the smooth white exterior mask, the inner one was shaped like a lion’s head.
It was incredibly detailed, almost as if someone had taken an actual lion’s head and crafted it into a mask. The way it moved was frighteningly natural.
Golden eyes scanned my face. Between trembling jaws, sharp fangs peeked out, complemented by twitching ears.
We murmured simultaneously.
“Is this even a mask?”
“You’re actually a man?”
Considering how its mouth moved as it spoke, and the warmth I felt beneath my hands, there was no way this was just another mask.
Which meant this was his real face.
A man with a lion’s face living in an isolated castle deep in the mountains… I’d definitely heard this story somewhere before—in a past life.
Wait, could this be…
Beauty and the Beast?
***
“I’m terribly sorry. You must have been shocked.”
“Well… yeah.”
I couldn’t even politely pretend otherwise. Especially since the one speaking right now wasn’t even human.
“There are reasons behind all this, but it’s difficult to explain fully at the moment. Please accept my apologies once again.”
The one offering these eloquent apologies in an impeccably polite voice was none other than a parrot named Almond. Apparently, he was the mansion’s butler—the same “man” who had guided me on the first floor earlier.
No wonder his presence felt oddly faint compared to his size.
I’d assumed he was just exceptionally skilled at hiding his presence, but it turned out to be a tiny bird wrapped up in fabric.
“Master, you should also apologize to our guest.”
“Ha! Ridiculous.”
The Beast scoffed openly at the parrot butler’s suggestion.
“The one who should be apologizing isn’t you or me—it’s that one over there. How dare you rudely force off someone else’s mask without permission?”
“That… well, I’m sorry.”
I had to admit I’d lost my cool earlier. Being sold as a slave out of nowhere would make anyone snap.
“Sorry? If apologies fixed everything, why do you think our great Imperial Law exists?”
“…Pretty sure the Imperial Law doesn’t apply to lion-headed men.”
“What are you muttering?”
“Nothing.”
Sure, I was reckless. But this Beast’s sudden shift in attitude was equally absurd. His strangely polite tone had vanished entirely, replaced by a deeply wrinkled scowl.
“That child he bragged about being so beautiful wasn’t a daughter, but a son? Unbelievable.”
Of course. I’d anticipated his disappointment. He was clearly expecting a beautiful young lady and ended up stuck with me. But frankly, I was just as baffled.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry for being a pretty boy so stunning that you mistook me for a woman.”
“And shameless too, it seems.”
“Haven’t you heard? When you’re this handsome, shamelessness is practically allowed.”
Why not? I’d been sold off because of my looks—wasn’t a bit of pride justified?
Still, the situation felt extremely off. No matter how much my father wanted that painting, would he really sell me off so easily?
“Did you threaten my father or something? Like, hand over your child if you want to leave alive?”
“Threaten? Just what kind of person do you think I am?”
Certainly not a normal one.
I quietly looked away from his piercing golden eyes.
Strange. I was pretty sure that’s how it happened in the movie.
“Then how exactly did you convince him to leave his son in such a shady place?”
“Obviously, he didn’t find anything shady about it.”
“That makes no sense. He stayed here for days, right? Didn’t notice a thing? You even had meals together.”
“To be precise, your father ate—I merely pretended.”
“And he didn’t say anything?”
“Not a single word.”
How could he possibly not notice? Unless…
“Wait, was he drinking by any chance?”
“He finished at least one bottle of wine at every meal.”
I figured as much. I could easily picture him, drunk and carefree, oblivious to everything else. My father was exactly that type of person.
“Still, he should’ve at least asked why you wore a mask.”
“I told him I had burn scars. After that, he never mentioned it again.”
“Seriously, how can he run a business if he’s so trusting?”
“Probably better than someone who recklessly tries to rip off strangers’ masks.”
“Wow, talk about holding a grudge. Fine, fine, I admit it—I’m the troublemaker here,” I sarcastically acknowledged. “Isn’t that all the more reason to quickly send me home and get rid of the problem?”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true. Who knows what other disasters you’ll cause if you stay?”
Seriously? Calling me a “disaster” straight to my face? The more he spoke, the less I liked him. But if it meant going home sooner, maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.
Just then, a parrot who’d been silently observing us flew gracefully forward.
“Pardon the interruption, but may I say something?”
“What is it, Butler?”
“It’s already dark outside. Whatever your decision, our guest should stay here for tonight. It might be best to rest, calm yourselves, and resume discussions tomorrow.”
“Huh? No, thank you. I’d rather just leave now.”
“Briel-nim, descending the mountain path at night is extremely dangerous. You could run into wolves.”
“Wolves?”
Okay, that was actually scary. Remembering the rugged path I’d climbed earlier, heading down in pitch darkness did seem reckless.
“Guess I don’t have a choice. It’s not exactly my wish, but I’ll be imposing on you tonight.”
“Even as you freeload, you’re unbelievably arrogant instead of grateful.”
“Oh, my sincerest apologies, and thank you ever so kindly.”
“Zero sincerity.”
This guy really wanted to pick fights over every little thing. Seeing my expression grow sourer by the moment, the parrot butler quickly fluttered toward the door.
“Let me guide you to your room. Follow me, please.”
“Thank you.”
The Beast snorted at me bowing politely to the parrot butler.
Whatever. I’m nice to those who show me kindness—that’s all. After giving the Beast a final glare, I turned away and followed the butler without looking back.
The room wasn’t very large, but it was clean, tidy, and inviting.
“You can sleep here tonight. I’ll come to escort you in the morning.”
“Alright.”
“Then, have a pleasant night.”
“You too, Par—Butler.”
I almost called him “Parrot Butler” out loud, stammering awkwardly at the last moment. Embarrassing.
Thankfully, the butler quietly disappeared into the dark hallway without any comment.
“Ah, I’m so exhausted.”
Given tomorrow’s uncertainties, I thought I’d be wide awake all night. Yet, the moment I saw the bed, my body collapsed onto it like iron drawn irresistibly to a magnet.
Between the exhausting journey, the difficult mountain trek, and that bizarre encounter with the Beast, my body and mind were utterly spent.
Forget it. Tomorrow’s problems were for tomorrow’s me to figure out with a clearer head.
With that comforting thought, I fell fast asleep.
