TYMIR Ch 18

Kiiing, kking.

He needed to answer with something, quickly, but no matter how wide he opened his small mouth, only the faint whimper of an animal came out, not human words.

“…Come to think of it.”

The voice from behind him suddenly cut off. Fear seized him at the abrupt silence. The small, furry body buried in the bedding trembled minutely. Was it okay to show himself like this? Having suddenly turned into an animal…

After a long moment of silence, Yoonyi cautiously pushed off with his hind legs and backed away. As he did, his deeply buried fur fluffed up like dandelion seeds. The tickling sensation made Yoonyi press it down with his front paws as he gently turned only his head.

Kking…

The pale face, clearly visible even in the dark, was still creased in a frown, as if deep in thought. At this, Yoonyi pattered over and gently placed a front paw on his knee. The upright gaze that had been staring blankly into the air dropped down. He himself was the one who should be fainting from shock, yet those clear eyes held no turmoil, no anxiety, not a single dirty impurity.

“You only ever became a fox when you were delirious with pain. This must be the first time you’ve been conscious like this.”

Just then, the clouds that had been covering the moon moved away, and soft moonlight poured in through the window. Hyowon, who had been silent all this time, finally parted his lips. At his words, the fox’s round eyes grew even wider. How could he be so calm, without a hint of surprise? As if he were someone who knew everything. Pausing for a moment as if frozen, Yoonyi nodded his small head.

“Usually, after you transformed once, you’d get back on your feet quickly. It seems it must have been very hard on you this time.”

Hyowon continued speaking as he quietly observed his form. The way his gaze gently lowered like the moon seemed strangely lonely. It looked as though he was still blaming himself, so Yoonyi placed a fluffy front paw on the back of his hand and shook his head vigorously.

“Thank you for saying so. But I know this isn’t the situation to be saying this, but… Yoonyi, you are truly lovely both now and when you are human.”

Curling the corners of his mouth, Hyowon leaned in close and whispered. He was a little bigger than before, but still a tiny animal that could fit snugly in one’s arms. Jet-black eyes. Fur as white and fine as snow. There wasn’t a single part of him that wasn’t lovable.

Kiiing.

At his words, Yoonyi’s pointed ears flattened back, and he abruptly turned his body to show his tail. The luxuriously fluffy tail swayed as if stirred by a spring breeze.

“All right, I won’t. So, is your leg a little better? I can’t tell at all because of the fur.”

A laugh escaped through his teeth at the coquettish display. Hyowon quickly composed his expression and asked cautiously. His distinct face looked as if he were trying to read the situation, his eyes darting back and forth. Come to think of it, the dull pain that had covered his entire body, chilling him to the bone, had vanished as if it were a lie. Yoonyi nimbly turned back around to face Hyowon.

“Let me just see the injured leg for a moment…”

Yoonyi blinked his innocently black eyes. At this, Hyowon seemed to reach a hand down towards his leg, but then he paused mid-air. It appeared he was confused about which leg was the injured one. Seeing this side of the usually composed man for what felt like the first time, a smile naturally bloomed across his face.

“Don’t tell me, Yoonyi, are you laughing right now?”

Along with an occasional ragged breath, the corners of the gentle fox’s mouth split wide open. Hyowon’s neat eyebrows shot up as if he were deeply perplexed.

Kki, kkiing.

Yoonyi closed the distance slightly and gently placed his hind leg on the palm that was still hovering in the air.

“This one.”

At that, Hyowon’s eyes belatedly lit up. So he really had been confused. Seeing him like this felt like meeting his childhood self again, and a sense of gladness washed over him. And so, Yoonyi once again swallowed a silent laugh.

“…Hmm, I can’t really tell just by looking like this.”

A gentle hand kneaded the short hind leg. Hyowon’s expression looked as serious as when he was reading a difficult book. Yoonyi stared at him intently before carefully withdrawing his hind leg and trotting all around the room.

“Y-You’ll get hurt if you run around like that.”

At that, Hyowon’s hips even lifted off the floor as he failed to hide his surprise. His jet-black eyes quickly filled and wavered with worry.

Keng!

At this, Yoonyi barked shortly and shook his head. Strangely enough, he felt no pain at all.

“It seems you’re all better. That’s truly a relief, Yoonyi.”

At last, a full-blown smile spread across Hyowon’s face. Hyowon quickly patted his lap. As if telling him to sit. Patter, patter, Yoonyi approached with light footsteps, hesitated for a moment, then climbed up. A warm hand then began to endlessly stroke the space between his ears.

“You should be back to normal by tomorrow…”

As the coziness grew, sleepiness quickly overcame him. Yoonyi let out a “kiiing” sound as if in reply and fell into a deep sleep. Only then did Hyowon let out a long sigh, as if releasing all the worry he had been suppressing. He had been worried that Yoonyi might be terribly shocked that he knew his true form, but it was a relief that it seemed to have passed without incident.

After confirming he was fast asleep, Hyowon carefully lifted Yoonyi in his arms and laid him on the bedding. He must have been deeply exhausted, as he showed no sign of waking. Nevertheless, the hand that gently covered him with the blanket was exceedingly delicate.

Hyowon leaned against the wall and quietly watched him sleep. Even in the darkness, the jade-white fur gleamed softly. Like a rare, precious creature.

“I will protect you, no matter what.”

Outside the window, a dim darkness still lay thick.

🎐⋆｡🍥

Just before the break of dawn, in the bluish twilight. The soft fur transformed into luscious hair in an instant. The light pink skin became a complexion so smooth it was nearly transparent.

It seemed as if a crack formed on his closed eyelids, and then, without warning, his jet-black eyes were wide open. Yoonyi raised a hand into the air and quietly stared at it.

“I’m back…”

It was his own hand, with the neatly trimmed fingernails he had always seen. A short phrase of relief escaped through his lips, weak and powerless. At the sound, Hyowon, who had been sleeping soundly, tossed and turned.

“Yoonyi, why are you not sleeping more.”

Hyowon, rubbing his eyes as he sat up, spoke out of habit.

“…Young Master.”

A voice thick with sleepiness was heard. The small fox that had been curled up on the bedding before he fell asleep was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was jet-black hair, clearly visible even in the bluish darkness. It was Yoonyi.

“I’ve returned to normal, Young Master.”

Yoonyi still couldn’t hide his surprise as he touched his body here and there.

“Yoonyi.”

At the sight of the pale, naked form before him, Hyowon turned his upper body away and cleared his throat with a “ahem.” At that, Yoonyi quickly draped himself with the clothes that were neatly folded on the sleeping mat.

“Are you decent?”

“…Yes, Young Master.”

When Hyowon, his back still turned, asked cautiously, Yoonyi quickly nodded his head.

“Are you really all right?”

“Yes, my body feels much lighter.”

Yoonyi replied with a faint smile to the question that was still full of worry. At this, Hyowon carefully lifted the blanket.

“Y-Young Master?”

“It’s true…”

The ankle that had been so swollen just yesterday had its swelling completely gone overnight, as if it had found its proper place. At the astonishingly fast recovery, Hyowon was unable to close his mouth. His gaze, starting from the tips of his toes, traveled very slowly up his calf.

“Still, the bruises are there, so I’m worried.”

“They’ll fade soon.”

The bruises on his pale face remained. His voice, floating in the air with sorrow, became even lower. Yoonyi’s lips fidgeted as if he had many questions he wanted to ask.

“…Young Master, since when did you know that I wasn’t human?”

His lips curled inward, then he gently bit his lower lip. After repeating this for a long time, Yoonyi finally spoke. But he was afraid to face reality, so he bowed his head like a stalk of ripened rice. His thin body looked even smaller today. Hyowon’s worries deepened.

“Please, tell me honestly.”

As his sighs grew deeper, Yoonyi gently tugged on Hyowon’s grass-green sleeve. In his black eyes, an un-faded confusion still churned. But looking into those clear eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to tell a lie. Hyowon let out a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth.

“The day I first met you. That was the first time. I was quite surprised back then, too…”

“…The day you first brought me here?”

To the question that was asked as if for reconfirmation, Hyowon nodded his head instead of answering. At that, all the color drained from Yoonyi’s face. It was a secret that a young Hyowon had kept by himself for many long years. How surprised and scared must he have been. He had intended to protect the Young Master, but to think he had been the one protected all this long time. His mind went completely white, as if all his thoughts had stopped. Suddenly, the voice of Lord Lee who had chased him echoed in his ears.

The words that catching a rare animal would bring a great fortune.

Back then, he had been too afraid to hear anything, but thinking about it now, it seemed that greedy man’s eyes had gone crazy upon seeing him transformed into a fox.

“So that’s why the Mountain Lord said to me…”

The words of the tiger that had vanished years ago, leaving only questions, now seemed to be falling into place, one by one.

“The Mountain Lord? Have you met someone?”

At his entranced muttering, Hyowon tilted his head and approached.

“Do you remember the day I went to the mountain with my noona and lost consciousness?”

“How could I forget?”

His jawline was still slightly rounded, not yet having completely shed its childishness. But then and now, the fact that he knew everything and still tried to take care of him to the end made his eyes sting with gratitude. Ripples formed in his pitch-black eyes, and tears flowed down his cheeks.

“Yoonyi, what’s wrong? Does your head suddenly hurt?”

Startled, Hyowon rushed over and quickly wiped away his tears. The touch of his hand was so warm. Yoonyi held his hand tightly and shook his head over and over.

“I-I’m sorry, it’s just, I truly didn’t know that the Young Master knew… and for you to still show me such kindness is just so…”

The slender fingers clutching the back of his hand tightened. Yoonyi still couldn’t lift his head. He must have been so shocked, and seeing him so flustered made his heart ache even more. Hyowon gently pulled the thin body closer.

“No, I should have given you some hint sooner. I was hesitating about how to bring it up, and it ended up like this.”

The voice, still warm as sunshine, lingered in his ear. Hyowon lightly patted the heaving back.

“Yoonyi, it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re a fox or a person.”

“…Young Master.”

“So in front of me, it’s okay not to hide.”

Listening to the calm voice, Yoonyi gently pulled away from the embrace and faced him. The trembling that had spread throughout his body was gradually subsiding.

Even in the bluish dawn, Hyowon’s cheeks were flushed as red as the rising sun. Having revealed his feelings so plainly, Hyowon quickly changed the subject.

“Um… but there seem to be a lot of watchful eyes for the time being, so it would be better for you to lie down a little longer.”

“I’ll do that, Young Master. I am truly grateful and so sorry.”

Yoonyi rubbed his eyes with his sleeve and nodded. The baby hairs that fell softly were as messy as a half-built bird’s nest and incredibly cute. A gentle smile formed on Hyowon’s lips as he watched him.

“What is there to be sorry for. Do you know how reassured I feel because you’re here? If that Makgae fellow had continued to be my personal attendant…”

“Young Master.”

At the name that popped up without warning, Yoonyi blinked his vacant eyes.

“Yes?”

“Um, where did you put the clothes I was wearing?”

As soon as the words were out, Hyowon’s expression immediately crumpled. As if something he didn’t want to recall had been brought up again.

“Why are you looking for those?”

“There’s something important in the pocket.”

“Is that so? I had you change as soon as we came to the annex, so Suni probably took them.”

Hyowon smoothed his furrowed brow and replied obediently.

“I’ll ask her about it later. In the meantime, you’re so diligent and don’t know how to slack off, so you should take this opportunity to practice lying down.”

As soon as Yoonyi finished speaking, Hyowon quickly straightened the crooked pillow and pressed down on his nimble shoulders.

“…Yes?”

“Look, you’re being awkward even now, aren’t you?”

When Yoonyi’s expression hardened unusually with bewilderment, Hyowon pointed at his face with his index finger as if chiding him. At the playful gesture, Yoonyi couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Madam, Madam!”

“My head is killing me as it is, why are you making such a fuss.”

Yeonim ran into the inner quarters, her face pale as a sheet as if she had seen a ghost. At that, Madam Han, who was still in a foul mood, glared at her fiercely.

“Makgae was just here…”

“And what story did that utterly useless fellow tell to cause such a commotion.”

When Makgae’s name came from Yeonim’s gasping mouth, Madam Han scoffed and slowly turned her head away. She had told him to watch, but instead of any proper news, the fool had been nothing but a freeloader sucking up money for years.

“No, not this time! My goodness, the Lord sent a physician for that lowborn!”

“What? A physician?”

Madam Han’s sunken eyes darkened further. Grinding her molars, she couldn’t hold back and shot to her feet.

“W-Where are you going?”

Her furious steps shot out of the middle gate of the inner quarters like an arrow. Seeing her blow past like a cold wind, no one dared to even meet her eyes for fear of being blamed for something.

“M-Madam. The Lord is still…”

At Madam Han’s sudden appearance, the female servant guarding the front tried to block her way, looking deeply troubled.

“Move!”

Madam Han, her face completely distorted, shoved the female servant blocking her path with all her might. The girl tumbled into the courtyard like a rag. Even as she heard a groan, Madam Han didn’t spare a glance and strode inside. In the master’s main living quarters, Lord Kim, who seemed to have just woken up, was dozing on the sleeping mat. His wrinkled face was still filled with sleepiness.

“My Lord! How could you not only fail to kick that lowborn out but even provide him with a physician!”

Madam Han, who had burst in without warning, yelled.

“…Have you come to question me about that first thing in the morning?”

“Did you not see Seunghun’s injury, my Lord.”

Lord Kim only rolled his eyes slightly to face his young wife. Nevertheless, Madam Han’s ferocity showed no sign of abating. When he first took her as his wife, he had liked her for being so young yet so audacious, but now her constant questioning of every little thing was becoming endlessly annoying.

“I saw it.”

“How could you, after seeing it! Do such a thing.”

Lord Kim was the picture of composure. At his appearance, Madam Han became even more enraged. Seunghun still had a cloth wrapped around his head because of his injury, so how could his own father be so nonchalant? Her emotions churned like a tidal wave. She clutched her skirt fiercely and asked again.

“Wife, have you already forgotten how Hyowon crushed his spirit?”

“…T-That’s.”

The silence broke as a low question returned. The anger that had pooled in an instant blurred like fog. Madam Han closed her mouth as if she had lost her words.

“Were you not the one who said that if we hold that lowborn’s life in our hands, he would prostrate himself? But what would happen if we kick him out now?”

“Still, even so. A physician was going too far.”

A sticky gaze that seemed to see through everything lingered on Madam Han’s face. Only then did she slyly avert her gaze and grumble.

“He seems to have grown quite attached already. Trying to force them apart is bound to cause trouble. And in the first place, it’s not like Seunghun was hurt enough to die, is it?”

Lord Kim sat up straight and, as if it were someone else’s problem, leisurely stroked his beard.

“My Lord, how can you say such things…? Don’t tell me it’s because our Seunghun is a little lacking.”

Madam Han’s expression crumpled in an instant like a flooded riverbank. Gasping for ragged breaths, she forced her mouth open. The tone of her words wavered unsteadily.

“How does the conversation jump there again.”

“Do you remember how affectionately you treated this concubine when I was pregnant with Seunghun? And what about when Seunghun was just born?”

“That’s enough, let’s stop this.”

Lord Kim clicked his tongue and pointedly turned his body away. At her husband’s cold demeanor, Madam Han’s heart broke. It felt as if the affection of over a decade, built up layer by layer, was crumbling away without a trace. She left the room just like that.

“M-Madam!”

As her steps faltered weakly, the waiting Yeonim quickly supported her.

“Call Makgae and tell him to report everything, without missing a single detail.”

“Yes, yes, I will tell him so.”

“Including everything about that lowborn.”

A voice colder than the winter winds that she thought had long passed rang in her ears.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Noona, Noona!”

“Huh?”

A small voice reached Suni’s ear just as she was about to enter. Suni turned her gaze toward the sound. Makgae, standing in the corner by the side door, was waving his hands in the air.

“…Nothing happened overnight, right?”