TYMIR Ch 28

Still, this wasn’t right. For the sake of his future, it was something that could never happen. Yoonyi, barely suppressing his wildly leaping emotions, slowly opened his mouth.

“What is this marriage nonsense that you, Yoonyi, are going on about too? The one I vowed to stand by and protect is you.”

At the firm and cold reply, Hyowon’s face turned white. His once composed eyes wavered quickly, filled with confusion.

“I was just…”

As if it had never happened, the gentle voice endlessly lingered in his ear. At this, Yoonyi slowly raised his gaze. Where his eyes landed, Hyowon was standing still, wearing an awkward smile.

“I am certain that this feeling is love, but what do you think, Yoonyi?”

“Th-that’s not something you should say. How could… I am a man, and a m-mere commoner.”

The stiff lips finally let out a sound, and he dropped his gaze as if to look away. Beneath the long eyelashes, a shadow cast by the sunlight settled softly. Hyowon just silently caressed the hand that was resting on the ground, then placed the norigae on its palm.

“Young master…”

The jade, warm from being held for so long, felt hot. It was as if the heat radiating from the small norigae was spreading throughout his entire body.

Yoonyi resolutely shook his head. At that, Hyowon stealthily reached out and pushed back the black hair that had fallen forward.

“Yoonyi.”

Their gazes, which had been avoiding each other, finally met, and in an instant, his head tilted gently.

Then, a wet piece of flesh pushed through his surprised, parted lips. Yoonyi’s slender shoulders shot up. Hyowon, who had kissed him at an angle, pressed his body closer. Feeling as if his mind would fly away at any moment, Yoonyi stealthily pulled his body back, and the lips that had seemed inseparable slowly parted and moved away. Yoonyi just blinked, touching his still-wet lips.

“It doesn’t matter that you are a man and a commoner. The most precious thing to me is only you, Yoonyi.”

His unwavering, straight eyes endlessly took in Yoonyi.

“…M-my apologies, young master. I will be heading back first.”

Yoonyi, who had been keeping a silent stillness with his head lowered, suddenly shot up. Then he descended the mountain as if fleeing. Left alone, Hyowon just quietly watched his retreating back.

“Oh dear, was I too hasty…”

Was it because he was so impatient, feeling that if not now, he would never be able to confess his feelings, and pushed too hard? Judging by the reaction, he was clearly frightened. Hyowon let out a deep sigh and tucked his lips inward.

On his jet-black eyes, the retreating back was still reflected.

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Yoonyi, who had run frantically, finally came to a stop when he was out of breath.

Could what just happened still be a dream? He was dazed. Yoonyi carefully took out the norigae he had placed securely in his clothes. The norigae, catching the sunlight, shone like a star in the night sky.

“To think the young master truly… me…”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. How could he love a mere commoner, and a man at that, who wasn’t even a complete human? Looking at the norigae, intricately carved in the shape of a butterfly, his mind once again grew dizzy with confusion.

Yoonyi put it back deep inside his clothes. Then, as if nothing had happened, he knocked loudly on the gate.

“Who’s there?”

“It’s me, Yoonyi.”

With a creak of the hinges, the gate opened. But the man who opened the gate looked at him with a somewhat displeased expression.

“…W-well, never mind.”

With his eyes cast down, he mumbled, looking as if he were sizing him up. He seemed to have something to say, so Yoonyi looked at him again, but the man quickly turned his back and disappeared. Yoonyi crossed the threshold alone.

But the atmosphere inside the house was chaotic, strangely different from usual. The maids were continuously carrying steaming hot water to the inner quarters. Yoonyi walked across the courtyard, constantly looking around. Then, a huge shadow suddenly filled his vision.

“Ch-Chilbok-ajae.”

Chilbok, with his fierce impression and narrow, slanted eyes, stood before him. As if he had something to say to him, Chilbok exuded a palpable killing intent and looked down at Yoonyi quietly. Then, he silently patted his shoulder twice and walked past.

“Wh-why is he acting like that?”

Yoonyi, clueless, blinked blankly and quickly ran into the alley next to the main building.

His heart was as chaotic as the atmosphere in the house.

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“But the young master has really changed a lot. He was so frail as a child.”

Makgae pouted his lips and kicked at an innocent pebble.

“Changed? I saw him this morning, and he was just like he was as a child.”

“This morning? Noona, did you see something?”

Suni replied, her brow furrowing slightly in puzzlement. At this, Makgae’s eyes widened, and he leaned his head in close.

“Should I say it?”

“It’s just us, what’s the big deal?”

“Actually, I went to the young master’s room early today and I was so surprised.”

At Suni’s words, Manseok, who had been lounging on the main floor, slightly turned his head.

“No, Yoonyi was pressed right up against him, covering the young master’s mouth.”

Suni, who had been glancing left and right, suddenly lowered her voice.

“What? He laid a hand on that cold young master’s body?”

The end of Makgae’s sentence shot up noticeably. He couldn’t even blink, as if he truly couldn’t believe it.

“It sounds strange when you put it like that, but it’s not wrong, is it? They were stuck close together.”

“It must be that in Yoonyi’s eyes, the young master still seems like a child.”

Suni scratched her head awkwardly at Makgae’s reaction, who looked as if he would faint at any moment. Manseok, who had been watching blankly, averted his gaze and muttered nonchalantly.

“Hyungnim, no matter what, how is this not a big deal? As you said, it’s not like the young master is a snot-nosed kid.”

At Manseok’s composure, which went beyond calm, Makgae began to pant angrily.

“Honestly, Oppa is so calm.”

“The young master has always seemed to open up and be comfortable with Yoonyi, so don’t you go blabbing about it anywhere.”

“Where would I go blabbing about this?”

Manseok, barely listening, shook his head and gave a firm warning.

“You too, Makgae.”

“Of course, hyungnim. The matters of the inner quarters must be buried here.”

Suddenly, Manseok’s eyes flashed fiercely. At that menacing aura, Makgae quickly nodded his head.

“Aigoo, I suddenly have to go to the outhouse…”

“Ugh! Go and come back quickly.”

Makgae, whose eyes had been darting around, suddenly clutched his backside. At that, Suni’s face scrunched up in disgust as she slapped his back.

“I’ll be right back. Noona, th-this, please.”

Makgae, his slanted eyes drooping, held out the broom he was holding with a deeply troubled face. Then he hastily threw open the side gate.

“Hyung, hyungnim?”

Startled by Makgae who appeared as soon as the side gate opened, Yoonyi stared with wide eyes.

“What’s this, why are you here so early?”

“Ah, I had a little something to take care of. Where are you going, hyungnim?”

He looked so rushed that Yoonyi’s gaze slowly traveled down from the top of his head.

“Aigoo, my stomach. I’m going to the, the, ou-outhouse!”

Makgae quickly clutched his buttocks with his chubby hands and ran out in a hurry. Yoonyi, who had been staring blankly at the sight, went inside and cautiously approached Suni, who was sitting on the main floor.

“Noona, did something happen?”

“Aish, don’t even talk about it. After the young master left, the madam threw a huge tantrum…”

As soon as the words were out, Suni let out exaggerated sighs.

“…The madam did?”

“Yes, but the lord must really be getting old, he didn’t say anything more about it.”

“Don’t tell me she collapsed? I thought I saw a physician enter the inner quarters…”

“In vulgar terms, she couldn’t control her temper.”

“…Pardon?”

Suni stretched her neck, looked around, and whispered secretly. At this, Yoonyi spoke with a dazed expression.

“So for the time being, don’t you do anything that could get you in trouble. It seems the madam will become sensitive again soon with talks of the young master’s marriage proposal papers being sent out or something.”

“Marriage?”

After letting out another sigh, Suni suddenly thrust her face forward as if she had thought of something. The way her eyes were wide with intensity showed that it was no ordinary matter.

“Yes, it seems she’s trying to drive the Young Master out by marrying him off.”

“……Is that possible?”

His clear eyes trembled violently. Yoonyi barely calmed his surging emotions and parted his lips.

“Of course. The Young Master is an illegitimate son, isn’t he? It’s natural for an illegitimate son to leave the house after marriage.”

“It might actually be a good thing for the Young Master.”

Even Manseok, who was usually a man of few words, added a comment with a relaxed face, as if in agreement.

“Th-that’s true……”

Hyowon had always wanted to leave this place, but this was not the way he wanted it to happen. Wasn’t this, for all intents and purposes, being kicked out? Yoonyi couldn’t show any of his feelings and just twisted the corners of his mouth into an awkward smile.

“Don’t worry so much. The Young Master will surely take you with him, Yoonyi.”

Misunderstanding Yoonyi’s frozen expression, Suni patted his shoulder and added.

“Nui, hyungnim. I’m going to tidy up inside.”

“Oh? Alright. Take your time.”

Yoonyi stepped inside with a faint smile.

With every step he took, the floor, which had endured for so long, creaked incessantly like crying wood. He felt as if he had overheard something he shouldn’t have.

No, he had simply heard too much. Would it have been better not to hear their true feelings? The heavy feeling in his heart weighed down his entire body, and as soon as Yoonyi entered the room alone, he collapsed to the floor.

He had planned to calmly think about how he should face the Young Master when he returned home later. But before he could even do that, hearing talk of marriage pushed his own worries aside, and he was filled only with concern for his young master.

“If the Young Master finds out about this……”

To someone so determined to leave by his own strength, they were trying to marry him off to an unwanted partner in the blink of an eye. How could they be so cruel to the Young Master until the very end? Considering what Hyowon had endured in this house. A corner of his own chest felt tight, as if he were suffocating. Yoonyi buried his face in his knees and let out only heavy sighs.

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“His Lordship must have truly lost his mind.”

The bedridden Madam Han’s face was still flushed red with unabated anger. A stream of harsh words erupted from her mouth.

“M-Madam. Please lower your voice.”

“Lower it? Didn’t you hear it yourself, right beside me!”

Fearing someone might overhear, Yeonim broke out in a cold sweat on her forehead and repeatedly glanced around. However, Madam Han, as if she had no intention of hiding it, raised her voice and shrieked.

“Aigoo, of course, of course. Naturally, yes, I heard it.”

“How dare he, while the legitimate son is alive and well? What? Let that lowborn thing inherit the family? If this isn’t madness, what is it?”

Madam Han shot up in a fit of rage. Still unable to calm her anger, she abruptly flung the wet towel from her forehead onto the floor.

“Madam, please compose yourself. I’m most worried you’ll truly collapse at this rate.”

“After all I’ve endured until this day, I feel like I’m going to die before my time is up.”

“Aigoo, please don’t say such dreadful things. You must think of Young Master Seunghun.”

Yeonim moved closer and gently massaged Madam Han’s stiff shoulders. She let out a series of hot breaths and pounded on her chest.

“Yes, I cannot let decades of my life be wasted in vain like this. Especially for the sake of my poor Seunghun, I must not stay like this.”

As the face of her son, more precious than any rare gold or treasure, floated in her mind, a serene aura settled over Madam Han’s face, which had been furiously beating her chest in anger. At this unusual sight, Yeonim could barely swallow her dry saliva, her eyes fixed on her mistress.

“What are you doing? Send a message to Lord Hong’s residence at once.”

“Pardon? Are you truly planning to go against His Lordship?”

Madam Han’s expression changed in an instant as she whispered secretively. At that, Yeonim’s hands, which had been massaging her shoulders, came to a dead stop.

“Go against him? Doesn’t His Lordship also wish for that fool to get married? I will grant him his wish.”

“Th-that is……”

“I hear that the youngest daughter of the Hong family is rumored to be quite beautiful. No matter how much that bastard says he won’t marry, as a man, can he resist?”

Madam Han’s fiercely blazing eyes grew cool again, as if they had never been on fire.

“Indeed, what man would refuse a woman! You are truly brilliant, Madam.”

“Madam, Makgae is here to see you.”

“What?”

Yeonim, who had been fidgeting the whole time, finally sat her bottom down on the floor. It was then. At the sound of the maid’s voice from outside, the wrinkles on Madam Han’s brow deepened once more. She contorted her face openly, as if she had no intention of hiding her displeasure anymore.

“Madam, you should rest. I’ll tell him to leave.”

“Just let him in. I’ll take this opportunity to fix that rascal’s insolent behavior.”

Will all hell break loose again? As Yeonim, who had been darting her eyes back and forth, tried to get up quickly, a voice as cold as a winter frost followed.

“Pardon?”

“If he tries any funny business, I’ll make it so he can’t even use his legs.”

At the sight of her, like a demon seething in the fires of hell, Yeonim clamped a hand over her own mouth.

Unaware of what Madam Han was thinking, Makgae entered with a beaming face, full of excitement.

“What sort of tall tales have you come to spin now?”

“M-Madam. What do you mean by that?”

The moment she saw Makgae’s face, Madam Han’s tone, which had just calmed down, shot up fiercely. Her voice, sharp as a blade, had the intensity to cut someone down on the spot. At this, Makgae prostrated himself flat on the floor.

“Do you have any idea how much you’ve extorted from me until now?”

“I-it’s a misunderstanding. T-today, I truly came to see you because I heard something.”

“……Is that so?”

The atmosphere was as tense as walking on thin ice. Makgae forced his stiff mouth to move. At that, Madam Han, who had been leaning back, showed interest and leaned forward.

“You remember, don’t you? What I said before, about Young Master Hyowon and that brat Yoonyi not having an ordinary relationship……”

“It seems the beating you got last time wasn’t enough.”

Before he could finish his sentence, Madam Han’s harsh voice cut through the air.

“N-no, Madam. This time, there’s someone who saw it for sure!”

“Do you have proof?”

Makgae’s eyes, filled with a sense of injustice, grew moist. At this, Madam Han questioned him again.

“W-well, as for that……”

As if there was no need to wait any longer, Madam Han gestured with her chin. The door to the inner room slid open with a rattle, and three or four stout men entered. The face of Chilbok, who rushed in first, was particularly contorted in a ferocious grimace.

“Aigoo! Madam, it’s true this time. Please, believe this humble one just this once.”

Chilbok glared fiercely and seized Makgae’s arm. With the atmosphere already so unsettled, if he were dragged out this time, he would be lucky to escape with just a broken leg—no, he would surely be beaten to death. Makgae violently shook off the arm that had grabbed him and, like a man who had lost his mind, crawled on his knees and clung desperately to Yeonim’s calf.

“Oh, my heavens! What is this man doing!”

Disgusted, Yeonim repeatedly kicked out her leg as if to shake him off. But Makgae clung to her like a limpet, showing no sign of letting go.

“M-Madam!”

With a tearful face, Yeonim called out to Madam Han.

“This will be the last chance I give you.”

“Yes, yes. I truly want to get rid of that brat Yoonyi this time as well.”

“……Is that true?”

Madam Han quietly moved only her lips, her eyes cold and sunken. Only then did Makgae finally release Yeonim’s calf that he had been hugging and slammed his forehead onto the floor again and again.