TYMIR Ch 17

“…Thank you.”

With a faint smile on his lips, Hyowon left the main living quarters.

Only after facing the sky did he feel the snake that had been tightening around his throat fall away. Hyowon grabbed a pillar of the main hall and gasped for breath. He was furious at his own incompetence, at not even being able to call a physician as he pleased.

“Someday, I will…”

His endlessly wavering, jet-black eyes suddenly flashed with clarity. For now, this was the best he could do to save Yoonyi. However, he had not the slightest intention of being bound to this place forever.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“I wonder if the Young Master is doing alright?”

Wiping the patches of clotted blood from her pale legs, Suni suddenly let out a sigh.

“Didn’t you see the Young Master’s eyes earlier?”

“…The Young Master’s eyes?”

Manseok replied in a slightly blunt tone. Suni still looked like she couldn’t grasp what he was talking about.

“He was different from usual.”

Manseok’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Was he? Goodness, what a mess this is. By the way, where has that Makgae fellow gone off to again.”

Suni sighed over and over again.

“Manseok.”

Just then, the closed door creaked open. The two people’s gazes turned to one spot.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Manseok slowly stood up and came to stand before Hyowon.

“I have a request for you.”

After a moment’s pause, Hyowon barely managed to part his lips.

“Please, speak.”

“I need you to fetch a physician.”

“Young Master, did you manage to persuade the Lord?”

Suni’s eyes widened as she cut in. As a cool gaze fell upon her, Suni quickly covered her own mouth. Manseok, who had been listening silently, was about to dash off.

“Wait. Bring one secretly from the next village over, not this one.”

At that moment, a hand snatched his thick wrist as he added another word. He felt uneasy bringing a physician from nearby. Rumors had a way of spreading fast.

“But Young Master, Yoonyi looks like he’s about to draw his last breath. How can you ask to bring one from the next village over?”

Suni, who had been quiet all this time, could no longer hold back and demanded fiercely. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand her feelings. Yoonyi still hadn’t regained consciousness, and his features were blurred from the swelling.

“For now, just do as I say without asking any questions.”

Even though they were his subordinates, he couldn’t bring himself to tell them the truth. A heavy sigh escaped through his clenched teeth. When he looked back at Manseok, thankfully, he seemed to have no questions, his face as expressionless as usual.

“And… you must not speak of today’s events to anyone. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Once again, Hyowon’s low voice cut through the air.

“I will be back shortly.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Manseok immediately rushed off and was out of the living quarters in the blink of an eye. A thick silence soon settled like fog. Hyowon’s eyes locked on Yoonyi, who was endlessly gasping for faint breaths.

“From now on, I will stay by your side.”

“Y-You, Young Master?”

As Suni once again soaked a dry cloth in hot water, Hyowon naturally took it from her. Startled, Suni asked with wide, round eyes.

“Yes. You must have been frightened as well. Go get some rest until the physician arrives.”

In his eyes, like the night sea, waves surged as if countless tides were rushing in. Seeing his sorrowful expression, which looked as though tears might fall at any moment, Suni forgot her words and quietly stood up.

“He must truly be very fond of him.”

Standing on the porch, Suni muttered to herself, repeatedly glancing back.

“Noona, why are you coming out alone?”

At the voice calling her, Suni looked around. Then she noticed Makgae, standing like a shadow behind the small side door.

“Where have you been all this time?”

“Me? I was staying out of the way, trying to read the Young Master’s mood. But why did you come out alone?”

Unable to control his impatient nature, Makgae asked again.

“The Young Master said he would do it.”

“Is there a nobleman who tends to a lowborn?”

“Don’t say that. To the Young Master, he’s almost like family.”

Suni smacked Makgae hard on the back. Makgae’s gaze still didn’t leave the small annex.

🎐⋆｡🍥

Once everyone had left, the faint, precarious sound of breathing could be heard intermittently. Hyowon carefully untied the loosely fastened garment ties. On the slender body, the vivid marks of a brutal flogging remained.

“Perhaps I should not have gone to training today.”

His heart felt as if it were being torn to shreds. Hyowon couldn’t bear to look at the marks and helplessly dropped his head. Past the anger, only regret now filled him.

“…How can you say something so weak.”

“Y-Yoonyi!”

A faint voice, as if it would fade at any moment, was heard. At this, Hyowon blankly lifted his head. Beneath the bruised and swollen eyelids, he could see eyes as thin as thread.

“…I’m sorry for leaving you alone. I don’t know how I can face you.”

His vision kept blurring. Hyowon swallowed the ball of fire that repeatedly rose in his throat and continued speaking.

“No, Young Master. It was my fault.”

“Don’t say that. What did you do wrong?”

Yoonyi weakly shook his head. Seeing Hyowon’s fragile state was more heart-wrenching than the dull pain that coursed through his entire body. His trembling fingers lightly swept across Hyowon’s eyes. With every touch, hot tears soaked his fingertips.

“…You believe me?”

“If I don’t believe you, who would I believe?”

Holding the delicate hand, Hyowon replied as if making a vow. As if that promise brought him so much joy, Yoonyi finally curled the corners of his lips into a slight smile.

🎐⋆｡🍥

A gentle touch roamed over the broken skin. There wasn’t a single sound part on the thin body. When he saw the swollen legs, his brow furrowed on its own. After meticulously wiping away the dried bloodstains and changing him into clean clothes that had been prepared beforehand, Hyowon stayed by his side for a long time.

“Yoonyi.”

The moment he had regained consciousness felt like a dream. He kept shivering, as if a fever was rising. Just like someone afflicted with a high fever. What would he do if he turned back into a fox? His vision went dark with fear. It was then.

“Young Master.”

🎐⋆｡🍥

Drenched in sweat, Manseok crossed the threshold, out of breath. Even for a spring day, the night breeze was still cool, but he had run so fast that it took a long while just to catch his breath. Behind him, an elderly physician, his face flushed red, was coughing violently as if he would stop breathing at any moment, rattling his wooden medicine box.

“I’m dying. Hey! You brat! Do you know how old I am this year!”

The physician, who was gasping like a fish out of water, smacked Manseok squarely on the back of the head. Suddenly struck, Manseok showed no sign of displeasure, simply scratching the back of his head and stepping aside.

“My apologies, the situation was just too urgent.”

The constantly grumbling physician met Hyowon’s eyes and immediately shut his mouth. How could the gaze of one so young be so coldly sunken? Just standing next to him felt like a cold wind was blowing, so he couldn’t complain any further.

“Aigoo, how did such a young man end up beaten to a pulp like this.”

The physician, who had been stealing glances, quickly passed Hyowon and, upon seeing Yoonyi who was covered in blue bruises, naturally took a seat by his head.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Ahem, he seems to be in critical condition, so I will check his pulse first.”

Ignoring Hyowon’s words, the physician, who had let out a series of dry coughs, set down the wooden box he had tucked under his arm and placed his fingers on the slender wrist.

“How is he?”

Hyowon’s eyes, so black they had a bluish tinge, trembled with anxiety. However, no matter how long he waited, the physician only tilted his head, unable to offer a ready answer.

“Is his condition very bad?”

The longer the silence stretched, the more Hyowon’s eyebrows twitched uneasily. A heavy silence filled the room. The physician’s finely wrinkled eyes repeatedly narrowed and widened. After a long pause, he cleared his husky throat once more.

“No, that’s not it. He’ll get better with plenty of rest. But in my decades as a physician, I’ve never felt a pulse like this…”

At the physician’s words, anxiety clouded Hyowon’s eyes.

“What in the world does that mean?”

Before the physician could speak again, Makgae, who had been poking his head through the slightly ajar door, suddenly interjected. As Hyowon’s gaze flashed sharply, Manseok shot up and grabbed Makgae by the scruff of his neck.

“Hy-hyungnim! What are you doing!”

After that, silence fell once more. Hyowon slowly nodded his head, as if telling him to speak.

“Well, it’s that…”

“It’s all right, just tell me.”

Hyowon continued, his voice as calm as a placid lake. At that, a gap slowly formed between the physician’s tightly sealed lips.

“Looking at the fluttering, it’s clearly a slippery pulse (滑脈), but strangely, I can also feel a rough, choppy pulse (澀脈)…”

His dark brown eyes kept glancing at Yoonyi. As if he himself didn’t know what he was saying, the old physician’s expression was one of deep confusion.

“…He’s a man, so it’s not like he’s with child, but how can a human have two pulses. It almost feels like an animal. It is truly strange.”

“An animal, you say. Do you really think so.”

Hyowon, who had been listening quietly, repeated the words like an echo and then suddenly asked with force. A chill instantly spread over his not-yet-fully-grown face.

“Aigoo, Young Master. No, that’s not it. It seems this old man has gotten so old it’s time for me to get acupuncture myself.”

At that, the old physician’s wrinkled eyelids shot up. He rolled his eyes, showing the whites, and quickly shook his head.

“I would appreciate it if you kept today’s events to yourself.”

“Of course, there is no question.”

Hyowon met his eyes steadily and gripped the physician’s shoulder. Glancing down at the firm hand, the physician nodded his head so vigorously that his old hat shook.

“I will trust only you.”

“Of course, Young Master. He’s young, so as long as he takes his tonic on time and rests, he’ll be back on his feet in no time, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

The physician’s back was now damp with a cold sweat. After checking the pulse for a long while, he quickly changed the subject. Then, fumbling, he rummaged through his wooden box and placed long needles into the acupuncture points on the severely swollen legs.

“See? If it were actually broken, there would be no sensation even with the needles.”

“His toes are moving.”

As if the earlier chill had never been there, a bright smile instantly appeared on his face.

“It won’t take that long. I shouldn’t be standing here, I’ll go prepare a tonic right away.”

As the coolly descended anger dissipated, the physician’s expression relaxed, becoming more at ease than before. Hyowon was finally, quietly, relieved.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Thank you for coming all this way.”

“Ho ho, what do you mean, a long way. Please call for me again in the future.”

The physician bowed deeply without any sign of displeasure. Then, Hyowon took out a silk pouch he carried in his robes and handed it to him. Those who had been waiting anxiously slowly gathered around.

“Aigoo, this much…”

A smile quickly spread across the physician’s face as he estimated the weight.

“Manseok.”

Hyowon, who was seeing the physician off, met eyes with Manseok standing at the edge of the veranda and called him softly. He then gestured with his chin, as if telling him to follow.

“Young Master, what about Yoonyi? Is he okay?”

Suni, wringing her hands, approached with a dark expression. Behind her, Makgae followed, sneaking glances. However, Hyowon didn’t have the leisure to pay attention to any of it.

“Yes, he said he’ll be better in a few days. You all must be exhausted, go rest.”

“Y-Young Master…?”

A cool shadow instantly fell over his bright face. Hyowon left those brief words and turned his back.

“Noona, why is the Young Master acting so cold?”

At this, Makgae nudged Suni and asked.

“Aish, Yoonyi was beaten so severely. How could his heart be at ease?”

“Even so, he’s just a male servant. Why does he care so much?”

Makgae grumbled continuously with an angry tone, as if he still couldn’t understand. Then he secretly turned his back and quietly wiped the sweat from his brow.

🎐⋆｡🍥

Entering the room alone, Hyowon naturally took his place by Yoonyi’s head. In his jet-black eyes, only the reflection of the one sleeping, oblivious to the world, was visible. But thankfully, unlike before, perhaps due to having taken the tonic and received acupuncture, his expression looked much more peaceful.

“…Yoonyi.”

A low voice spread through the air. As expected, no answer came back. When beads of sweat formed on his round forehead, Hyowon wiped them away with a dry cloth.

“You have no idea how scared I was. I truly thought I had lost you.”

Facing the one who still hadn’t regained consciousness, Hyowon poured out the words that had been pent up inside him. His tone trembled as if he were anxious. Hyowon held the hand that was like slender bamboo and continued.

“I said I would protect you when we were young, I’m sorry. But now, I will definitely build up my strength so that no one can ever treat you carelessly again.”

His calm tone suddenly grew heavy. His eyes, which had been stained with tears, now held a clear light. The thin body trembled as if the fever was returning.

“Yoonyi…?”

Hyowon moved closer. In an instant, the body that had been lying neatly on the sleeping mat transformed into a small fox in the blink of an eye. The fluffy-furred fox was curled up in a ball, unable to move.

“It was like this when you were a child, too. It seems you change when you’re not well.”

Kiiing…

Yoonyi, who always showed him clear eyes, still couldn’t regain consciousness even in his fox form. He only let out a mournful cry. At this, Hyowon gently lifted the small body and placed it on his lap.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I will protect you.”

Hyowon vowed as he carefully stroked the soft, silver fur. Then, the tightly shut eyelids opened, and bean-like eyes were gently revealed.

“Don’t worry about anything and rest. Yoon-ah.”

Hyowon endlessly comforted the small body. In the spreading warmth, the fox closed its eyes once again.

🎐⋆｡🍥

His whole body felt as light as if he were frolicking on the clouds. At the warm heat being transmitted to him, Yoonyi slowly opened his eyes.

The night had not yet completely faded, as a soft moonlight seeped in through the window. It was a deeply dark night and no oil lamp was lit, yet his bright yellow eyes adjusted to the darkness with unusual speed.

But his eye level was strangely low. Tilting his head, Yoonyi was about to stand up with a long stretch when something firm met the soles of his paws. It was also somewhat soft for the floor, and with a deeply puzzled expression, he lowered his gaze and saw a familiar grass-green jeogori.

Keng!

How could he be so irreverently lying on the Young Master’s body? A roar that was close to a scream escaped from his slightly parted muzzle in his shock. Yoonyi quickly scrambled off Hyowon’s lap. Simultaneously, Hyowon’s closed eyelids shot open.

“…Yoonyi?”

Hyowon, who had just woken up, rubbed his eyes with an impatient hand and naturally called his name. What was he to do? He would surely be surprised to see him like this. In a hurry, Yoonyi shoved his head into the bedding first. However, his fluffy tail was still peeking out.

“Yoonyi, are you perhaps feeling sick again?”

A calm voice continued from behind him. Worry was laced in every word. Yoonyi was so confused he didn’t know what to do. His coin-sized paws pattered on the floor. But he didn’t want to worry Hyowon any longer.