-22-
East Wind
Jeonggwan’s expression was not pleasant as he stood in the corner of the servant quarters’ wall in the Park family compound. Gaedol, the servant of the second young master of this household, had always just taken the letters Jeonggwan delivered at the side gate with a displeased face, but today, for some reason, he was allowing Jeonggwan to enter inside the compound walls. Despite having come here frequently, Jeonggwan had never set foot inside before, and he was now visibly tense with nervousness. Strange, the person who never once sent a reply was now inviting him in—what wind had blown today?
“Could it be that today he’ll give a reply…?”
Judging by this unusual behavior, it seemed likely he would send back either an acceptance or rejection. For Jeonggwan’s own comfort, a rejection would be better, but not wanting his young master to be hurt, he hoped for an acceptance, clasping his hands and stamping his feet anxiously.
“Huh…?”
But then Gaedol, who had gone into the men’s quarters just moments ago, appeared back quickly. Had the Park young master written a reply so quickly? Or had he already prepared one? While pondering these questions as Gaedol approached, Jeonggwan noticed that Gaedol’s face had turned pale as if someone was chasing him, and he frantically gestured to Jeonggwan.
“You, you come with me!”
“Where to…?”
“The, the, the eldest young master wants to see you!”
“The eldest young master? Why would he want to see me?”
“Don’t, don’t ask questions and follow me! Hurry!”
Suddenly the eldest young master wants to see me…? This must mean trouble. Jeonggwan instinctively sensed it. The Park family’s eldest son must be angry about our young master’s love letters. Jeonggwan tightly closed his eyes and followed behind the urgently walking Gaedol. It made sense that he would be angry—what kind of attitude was it to keep sending letters when the younger brother clearly didn’t want to reply?
“Why are you stuttering so much?”
“Wha? What?! Me, me, me?”
“Is the eldest young master… very angry?”
Gaedol’s severe stuttering made Jeonggwan deeply worried that the eldest young master must be furious. Am I going to be rolled up in a mat and beaten? No, surely he wouldn’t go that far. I’m still property of the Kyung family after all… He’ll probably just warn me. If my young master says he’ll send another letter, next time I’ll have to send Little Sam to deliver it secretly… Even as they walked, Jeonggwan was calculating how to avoid punishment.
“A-a-anyway, as soon as we get there, b-b-bow deeply first!”
“Bow deeply…?”
Normally, even when not facing royalty, a servant from another household would be expected to simply bow their head respectfully, but to immediately prostrate oneself meant the anger was far from ordinary. This really might end with me being rolled up in a mat for a beating. Jeonggwan’s face twisted with worry. Since childhood, as his young master’s favored servant, he had never been rolled up in a mat for beating, nor had he ever been struck by his parents. He even got to eat all of his young master’s leftover meals, and on his young master’s birthday, he had even eaten white rice mixed into beef seaweed soup—he was very different from other servants.
That’s why the current situation felt so desperate. The most pain he had ever experienced was scraping his palm when he fell while climbing the hill behind the house with his young master, but today he feared something might actually break. Strangely, he had had good fortune riding a horse earlier… As he entered the courtyard of the men’s quarters, Jeonggwan’s eyebrows and lips drooped significantly.
Upon entering the courtyard, he saw a figure with his back turned standing on the raised wooden porch of the men’s quarters—presumably the eldest young master who had summoned him. But how tall is he? When he had seen the Park family’s second young master with his own young master in the marketplace, he had appeared to be just over 5 cheok tall, but this eldest young master seemed to be 6 cheok? No, perhaps even 7 cheok. Moreover, despite the darkening sky, an elegant jade-colored robe that seemed to gleam encircled his tall figure, giving off such an intimidating presence that Jeonggwan’s knees weakened, making him feel like prostrating even if not ordered to.
“Th-th-this is the el- no! O-o-our el-eldest young master! H-hurry and prostrate yourself! How dare you not…”
Sure enough, Gaedol shouted for him to prostrate quickly, and Jeonggwan immediately collapsed to the ground, pressing his head to the earth.
“Eldest young master, I…”
Wait, should I just apologize unconditionally? Or should I say I’ve committed a mortal sin? But what if he takes that literally and orders me to die? I don’t want to die… Jeonggwan had opened his mouth but couldn’t continue, just rolling his eyes anxiously, when:
“Enough. Everyone withdraw except for this one.”
A deep, resonant voice—elegant yet firm—was heard. Upon hearing it, Jeonggwan almost lifted his head to see the eldest young master’s face. How could someone with such a good build and from such a prestigious family have such a good voice too? He must not envy even the king. Even in this frightening situation, Jeonggwan’s mind wandered to such thoughts.
Then, leaving Jeonggwan behind, footsteps were heard as Gaedol and apparently several others who had been present left the courtyard. Fortunately, I won’t be beaten immediately. If I speak well, I might leave this house with my body intact. Jeonggwan swallowed hard and focused intently. Just then, a large cloud blocked all the light entering the courtyard, and Jeonggwan’s eyes gleamed in the darkness.
“Is Juhwan, the second son of the Kyung family, truly your master?”
“Y-yes…”
“Then tell me, why does your master so disrespect our family?”
“P-pardon?! My young master…?”
“Yes. When my younger brother has not given a single reply, why does he persist so stubbornly? If my brother and your master have never once exchanged feelings, isn’t this disrespect toward our family?”
“N-no, that’s not it! My young master has never disrespected you…”
“Or perhaps, has my brother actually exchanged affection with your master? Speak truthfully. I promise I will not punish anyone.”
The voice, which had been piercing a moment ago, now softened as if encouraging the sharing of a secret, sounding so much like someone coaxing a child with the promise that no real trouble would come of it that Jeonggwan might have spilled everything had there been a hidden truth. But there was no hidden truth behind these passionate love letters. It truly was one-sided love from Juhwan, so Jeonggwan had no secrets to be tempted into revealing.
“Affection…? That is certainly not the case…”
“…Certainly not? Then why did your master send a letter saying he couldn’t sleep? How could he send such an improper letter if they are not lovers?”
“Well, that’s because my young master is so honest by nature… So he was just expressing his true feelings to the second young master, but he absolutely never meant any disrespect…”
Though trembling with fear as he spoke, perhaps finding courage in the fact that his face couldn’t be seen in the darkness, Jeonggwan even lifted his head to defend Juhwan. However, though brave in speech, his eyes remained tightly closed, which somehow made him appear quite valiant.
“Then I shall overlook it just this once.”
Perhaps moved by Jeonggwan’s bravery, the man granted leniency. This meant he would be spared from being rolled up in a mat for beating today. Great! Wonderful! Jeonggwan was so excited his bottom almost lifted off the ground, but fearing that expressing gratitude too enthusiastically might reverse the man’s goodwill, he remained in position, waiting to be dismissed.
As if celebrating with Jeonggwan, the clouds also took away the darkness, and he could feel the setting sun’s glow pouring into his still-closed eyes.
“So go and tell your master. If he sends such a letter again,”
“…”
“…a letter… again.”
But as the clouds cleared and everything brightened, the man suddenly stopped speaking, as if he had seen something, which made Jeonggwan curious enough to slightly open his eyes.
“…!”
He found himself making direct eye contact with the young master, who was staring blankly at him. And Jeonggwan too froze in place. Is this fair? Hasn’t too much good blood gone to the eldest young master? If our young master sees him, he’ll probably switch his affections immediately!
The Park family’s eldest young master wasn’t just wearing a gleaming robe—his face itself seemed to glow. The most beautiful person Jeonggwan had ever seen was a male entertainer named Chowol whom he had glimpsed at a large market festival two years ago, but although it seemed disrespectful to compare a young master to an entertainer, this young master had an even more beautiful face than that performer.
Like a bee entranced by a flower, Jeonggwan continued to stare blankly at that face for a long time, even though such behavior from a servant would normally be considered highly improper.
“…”
And the same seemed true for the other man. Noblemen would typically scold a servant who dared to look at them, saying, “How dare a low-born look at me?” But this man seemed to forget his dignity and stared just as blankly at Jeonggwan, as if equally entranced. Then, as if suddenly realizing his strange behavior, he startled and turned his head in another direction, but as if drawn by something, his head soon turned back toward Jeonggwan.
“Your master is… Kyung Juhwan.”
“Yes…”
“…Then, you.”
“Yes…?”
“…What is your name?”
“Ah, I… I am called Jeonggwan…”
A sweet yet fresh fragrance that he had never smelled before tickled Jeonggwan’s nose. It seemed to be coming from the eldest young master—somewhat like fruit, somewhat like the malt syrup used in making taffy. Jeonggwan unconsciously licked his lips.
“…Jeonggwan.”
Though he couldn’t identify what kind of scent it was or what it reminded him of, it was a fragrance that suited that fair and beautiful face exceptionally well.
“…That’s quite a fitting name for a servant.”
