Chapter 27
“Aaaaagh!”
The sound of wooden furniture being smashed reverberated across the dirt floor. Yun-seo stood frozen, his spine rigid, staring at Hwi.
“Bad habits ought to be corrected.”
Despite his ruthless action toward the man, Hwi’s voice was utterly dry. He looked over the man who was writhing in pain, having wet himself, then turned around.
Hwi grabbed Yun-seo’s arm and started walking.
Once they had escaped from the crowd surrounding them, Yun-seo, who had been following like a puppet led by Hwi’s hand, came back to his senses. When they reached a secluded path, Yun-seo stopped.
“My lord, there was no need to go that far. What if that man makes an issue of this…!”
Judging by his complete lack of manners, his family upbringing must also have been problematic, but how his parents would react was obvious. If that family truly belonged to high nobility, this would be no ordinary matter. If Hwi had to take responsibility because of him, how could he bear the guilt?
“I’ll ensure you don’t get involved, so don’t worry.”
“Who’s worried about me right now? What if that man harbors ill intentions toward you…”
“Even if he does. Could he touch even a hair on my head?”
His attitude of treating that man as less significant than a fly seemed almost bored. As Hwi remained calm after mercilessly crushing some young master’s hand, Yun-seo was filled with mixed emotions.
Relief that Hwi would truly be safe even if that man harbored ill intentions, but also anxiety that Hwi’s response might have been excessive.
However, no one could know what that ruffian might have done if Hwi hadn’t intervened. No matter how he might have tried to diffuse the situation with clever words, they might not have worked.
Let it go. There was no point in regretting what had already happened, thinking “this should have been done” or “that should have been done.” The important fact was simply that Hwi had rescued him from a difficult situation.
Yun-seo hesitantly opened his mouth.
“Thank—”
“Fluttering about, and now not satisfied with women, you’re attracting men too?”
Yun-seo’s face hardened at Hwi’s cold tone as he tried to express his gratitude. His manner of speaking sounded as if Yun-seo had deliberately seduced the man, making his blood boil.
Fluttering about? Except for the day he had gone out to check the situation, this was the first time he had ventured out alone, and what women was he talking about? And knowing full well what had happened, to express it in such a way was not something he could simply let slide.
“Why are you saying that to me? You saw everything just now. That man first…!”
“Yes. That’s why I broke his hand.”
Though Hwi’s words came out in a rather kind tone, Yun-seo froze. Then Hwi gently brushed Yun-seo’s arm where the scoundrel had grabbed him tightly moments before.
“Remember this.”
Hwi’s hand rose to Yun-seo’s cheek. He firmly rubbed Yun-seo’s flushed cheek with his thumb, as if erasing a dirty mark. The touch was rather stinging, but Yun-seo couldn’t say anything.
“If you allow another’s hand to touch you, I’ll simply cut off that hand.”
Would it be his own misunderstanding to hear this as a warning not to think about letting someone else touch him? Hwi’s face appeared casual, but a cold edge flashed in it, leaving Yun-seo pale and trembling slightly.
He couldn’t understand what had made this man so angry. Feeling sad and frightened by how Hwi was looking at him, Yun-seo lightly grasped Hwi’s sleeve.
“My lord…”
His voice flowed out tremulously, almost pleadingly. The hand rubbing Yun-seo’s cheek stopped, and as Hwi blinked his eyes a couple of times, his fierce demeanor gradually softened. Soon, he curled up one corner of his mouth.
“Why am I ‘my lord’ again? You were calling me ‘brother’ so well.”
The suddenly changed atmosphere was bewildering, but recognizing Hwi’s intention to tease him, Yun-seo composed himself.
“I was in a hurry. I thought they would back off quickly if I said I was your younger brother.”
“Why. Why not continue calling me that?”
“How could I call my lord ‘brother’?”
When Yun-seo deliberately responded in a curt tone, Hwi stared at him. Seeing his obvious intention to tease, Yun-seo widened his eyes.
“Then shall I really call you that?”
Though he didn’t actually intend to call Hwi ‘brother,’ it wasn’t impossible either. When someone tried to mock him, it was better to respond boldly.
Curious about what answer Hwi would give, Yun-seo’s eyes sparkled, but Hwi, who had been looking down at him sideways, suddenly flicked his forehead.
“Ow!”
Though it didn’t hurt, Yun-seo rubbed his forehead in exaggerated pain, and Hwi lowered his head to bring his eyes close to Yun-seo’s.
“That wouldn’t do.”
“…”
“I am a man who knows human relationships.”
What human relationships were there to consider in addressing a servant as ‘brother’? Yun-seo grumbled under his breath as he watched Hwi’s back retreating.
“After all that running, you must be hungry.”
Hwi stopped and gestured for him to come quickly. Realizing he was indeed hungry upon hearing those words, Yun-seo hurriedly followed behind him.
As he trailed after Hwi, Yun-seo examined his expression, which fortunately seemed no different from usual. Though various distracting thoughts arose about what had just happened, it was over, and he had decided to let it go.
However, despite that decision, it felt as if a tangled ball of thread was rolling around inside his chest, too complex to unravel, making it impossible for him to take his eyes off Hwi.
The place they arrived at following Hwi was an elegant mansion with a spacious interior and many rooms. Since it hadn’t looked this large from the outside, and as this was the first tavern he had seen converted from a residence, Yun-seo looked around curiously.
Entering the room they were guided to, a garden was visible through the open window. Brocade carp swam leisurely in a pond surrounded by bleeding hearts heavy with flowers and spiraea with their snow-white blossoms, creating an elegant and graceful landscape.
“My lord, you know so many nice places.”
When Yun-seo expressed his genuine admiration, Hwi smirked and picked up his teacup. More fatigue than before was visible on Hwi’s face as he took a sip of the warm tea. Yun-seo recalled that he had been continuously working without rest since arriving here.
“Do you have so much work? It seems you hardly rest at all.”
“I’m nearly finished.”
“That’s good then… Do you always handle this much work? I mean… if you’re this busy even while traveling, your duties must be quite significant.”
Hwi drank his tea without further comment, giving the impression that this was nothing unusual for him. Perhaps the reason Hwi couldn’t sleep was the weight on his shoulders.
“Is there no one else to share the burden with?”
“Even if shared, someone is needed to take responsibility for the final decisions. That’s my role.”
“Do you like what you’re doing, my lord?”
Hwi hesitated as he was putting down his teacup. He let out a small laugh as if he had heard something amusing.
“Does one call something done out of enjoyment ‘work’?”
“Some people might.”
Just as one might become a painter because they love painting, or a musician because they love playing instruments, one could become a merchant because they enjoy handling and selling goods. Of course, he wasn’t naive enough to think everyone could do what they dreamed of, but there were certainly people who loved their work, and Hwi didn’t seem to be among them.
‘Come to think of it, I was similar to you.’
‘To me?’
‘I thought I’d live traveling freely.’
Reflecting on their past conversation, Hwi might not have wanted his current position. If so, what was the driving force that kept him going? A sense of responsibility to continue the family line? Money? Honor?
“Have you ever… considered another path?”
Hwi’s gaze turned toward the window as if tracing his memories. A stream of flower scent flowed in, tickling their noses. Yun-seo, somehow unable to stay still, fidgeted with his fingertips.
“No.”
Hwi answered as if murmuring to himself. A strange disappointment arose, swirling inside Yun-seo’s chest.
‘All of this is just a predetermined yoke.’
The words Hwi had muttered when they were escaping the slums and taking shelter from a sudden downpour, along with his bitter face, were still vivid. Yun-seo clenched his fist and spoke.
“Is it because you find it difficult to abandon your duty? But if you wished, couldn’t you live a life just for yourself?”
When their eyes met again, Yun-seo realized he had overstepped. But he didn’t want to take back his words.
A person who thought he would live traveling freely couldn’t even set aside his work on the return journey. There was no sign of sweet sleep coming to him, and… someday he would likely marry someone predetermined.
How easy would it be for the heir of a great merchant to abandon his duties and responsibilities? He absolutely understood. He knew all of this, but…
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
