TYMIR Ch 4

Hyowon gave Makgae a firm command, then carefully took off his shoes and stepped up. He hadn’t even taken a step, yet his mouth was already parched, and his throat felt like it was on fire. His hands, pressed against his thighs, curled inward on their own.

🎐⋆｡🍥

As always, the main room he entered was fragrant with the scent of flowers, despite being the middle of winter. Hyowon kept his gaze on his toes as he slowly walked inside.

“…Mother.”

“Sit.”

The hem of a navy skirt brushed past his downcast eyes. At this, Hyowon carefully raised his head. When their eyes met, Madam Han showed a gentle smile.

“I saw the physician leaving just now. Are you unwell anywhere?”

“No. I just called him to confirm something.”

Hyowon once again dropped his gaze to the floor and mumbled with his small lips.

“Is everything all right in the small sarangchae?”

“…Pardon?”

It was just the same question as always, but perhaps because he had something to hide, the end of his voice rose slightly. In an instant, Madam Han’s eyes narrowed. She stared at Hyowon intently.

“Yes, nothing is wrong, Mother.”

“Yes, that’s a relief. Are you on your way to Master Choi’s house now?”

As the conversation didn’t lengthen, Hyowon felt a sense of relief inwardly.

“Yes, I am.”

“Keep this in mind. As the Master has specially permitted you to call him father, you must never bring shame upon the family. Do you understand?”

“…Yes, Mother.”

Hyowon knew vaguely. How great a grace it was to be allowed to call him father, not Master. Still, whenever she pointed it out like this, a corner of his heart would prickle as if jabbed by a thorn bush.

“Yes, if you understand, then you may be on your way.”

“I will be back.”

Madam Han turned and sat down, as if she didn’t want to talk any further. Only then did Hyowon quickly exit the inner quarters.

“Young Master! We must go together!”

Makgae’s voice soared from behind him. His legs, which had been hurrying as if being chased, finally stopped in front of the main gate. He had no idea what state of mind he had been in to leave like that.

“Young Master, why on earth were you running like that?”

Makgae, who had been following him breathlessly, asked while panting.

“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”

“You got another earful from my lady, didn’t you?”

“An earful…”

“It certainly looks like you did…”

Even though he repeatedly shook his head, Makgae didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Why must you act so savagely in every matter?”

His pitch-black eyes, like beans, were filled with resentment, surging like the night sea.

“Savagely? It’s just that girl was being so frustrating…”

“Enough. I don’t want to hear it.”

This excuse, that excuse. What was the point of talking more with a fellow who was unreasonable in so many ways? Hyowon once again ran outside.

“Y-Young Master! Let’s go together!”

🎐⋆｡🍥

Before long, the sun was hanging overhead. It was a little past noon when Hyowon left Master Choi’s house. He had always regarded his teacher’s words as if they were from heaven, but today, perhaps because his mind was elsewhere, he couldn’t concentrate on his books at all, unlike usual. As his steps on the frozen, cold ground slowed, Makgae, following behind, just cautiously observed, unable to say a word.

‘…I was thinking of telling her about Yoonyi.’

He had intended to gently bring it up if she would accept his morning greetings. But as always, his body stiffened and his mouth went dry whenever he stood before his mother, so he couldn’t do anything, let alone bring it up. On the contrary, hadn’t he almost gotten into trouble again today?

“What should I do?”

His round head drooped slightly downwards like a foxtail grass. The sigh that escaped his small mouth was quickly carried away by the blowing wind, flying high into the sky.

🎐⋆｡🍥

He didn’t know how long he had slept after having breakfast. He couldn’t even guess the time. Yoonyi blinked his eyes, alone in the quiet room. Had he ever spent a day so lazily in his life? Still, it felt wrong to keep lying down, so he carefully raised his upper body. A grimace formed on its own from the pain that hadn’t completely subsided. As he was groaning to himself like that.

“Yoonyi.”

A welcome voice came from behind him. Forgetting the pain, Yoonyi quickly turned his head.

“Young Master.”

His plump cheeks were flushed red from the harsh wind, as if he had been outside just a moment ago. The rainbow-colored hanbok and the nambawi suited him so lovingly. Yoonyi smiled brightly at Hyowon.

“Why are you moving again instead of staying still?”

“It’s nothing, I’ve been lying down for too long. I’m just a little stiff…”

Hyowon’s pale, jade-like face was quickly filled with concern as he approached the head of the bed. But now he saw that behind him was the man named Makgae, who had been so on edge before. Yoonyi instinctively got scared and clutched the blanket. The rustling sound of the blanket wrinkling in his slender hand was clearly audible.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and come in.”

Hyowon commanded Makgae, who was still standing like a pole without crossing the threshold, with quite a sharp look in his eyes. Only then did Makgae reluctantly and hesitantly step inside.

“You probably heard a rough summary from Suni back then, but this is my attendant, Makgae.”

Yoonyi, who had been blinking his large eyes, finally let out a small “Ah” and nodded his head. Makgae, who had been staring at this, twitched his nose and quickly opened his mouth.

“You heard the Young Master, right? I’m Makgae.”

“…I-I’m Yoonyi.”

Makgae stated his name triumphantly, then immediately turned his gaze to stare intently at his young master, his eyes pleading as if he was extremely uncomfortable here and wanted to be let out at once.

“Yes, you did well, so you may leave.”

As soon as permission was granted, Makgae scrambled out of the room as if he had been waiting for it.

“His personality is very different from Manseok’s.”

As the loud thumping footsteps, as if he were stomping with his heels, faded away, a shadow briefly fell over the small face.

“…E-excuse me, Young Master.”

Yoonyi, who had been carefully observing Hyowon, spoke up cautiously. At the sudden call, Hyowon stopped what he was about to say and met his gaze quietly.

“It’s all right if you don’t worry about me so much.”

“…Huh?”

As if he had heard something quite unexpected, Hyowon’s neat eyebrows rose up towards his forehead.

“I’m already indebted to you like this, why do you try to look after the minute details of a subordinate?”

Yoonyi continued in a gentle tone, meeting his eyes softly. There was not a trace of worry on his clear face, like a white magnolia. Knowing Makgae’s aggressive nature better than anyone, there were more than a few times when even Hyowon found him overwhelming. Yet, Yoonyi was transcendent, as if it were nothing at all. His voice, like a rustling blade of grass, felt strangely firm.

“But…”

“It is truly all right.”

Hyowon could not add any more words. A moment of silence fell. Each time his closed eyelids opened and shut, his black pupils, as if painted with ink, were fully revealed. Like that, Hyowon held Yoonyi in his gaze for a long while. In his thin frame, his large, clear eyes, like a deer’s, were particularly prominent. The faint scars left by the cold winter still remained on his still-pale cheeks.

“But, Young Master.”

Yoonyi, who had been endlessly receiving the pouring gaze, suddenly fidgeted with his lips. Hyowon nodded slowly up and down instead of answering.

“Your cheeks are frozen solid. Did you go somewhere far?”

Suddenly, Yoonyi reached out his hand and gently stroked the area around Hyowon’s eyes, which were still flushed red. The unique smoothness of a child’s skin clung to his fingertips.

“…Ah, I-I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s because I go to my teacher’s house every morning.”

Startled even after touching him, his gentle eyes widened in fear like a rabbit’s. At that, Hyowon shook his head from side to side. Each time he did, the nambawi that covered his head shook with him. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed a bit uncomfortable, so Yoonyi pointed slightly at his head and asked cautiously.

“If you’re all right with it, shall I take it off for you?”

“Yes, please do.”

At that, Hyowon smiled brightly, as if he had been feeling stuffy inside. When Yoonyi reached out his arms and gently lifted both ends of the nambawi, he felt a considerable weight.

“Your hands are quite deft.”

His hidden face was fully revealed, and his hair, neatly braided with a daenggi, was slightly pressed down and disheveled. Nevertheless, Hyowon pulled the corners of his mouth up tightly. He was so gentle and pretty that Yoonyi smiled along with him.

“But, your teacher’s house?”

“Yes, there is a very grateful person named Master Choi who helps me with my studies.”

“If you speak of him that way, Young Master, he must be a truly good person.”

Normally, a boy of Hyowon’s age would go to a village school. When the curious Yoonyi cautiously asked, Hyowon moved his small mouth without rest.

“Young Master, please come over here.”

Yoonyi, who had been listening quietly, moved aside slightly, offering the warmest spot on the floor.

“Huh?”

Hyowon’s eyes widened as he stared at the sight.

“You need to warm up too, Young Master. The adults will worry if you catch a cold.”

“No, you are the one who is unwell.”

He then refused quite maturely. That too was so lovely. Yoonyi barely suppressed the laughter bubbling up from within and narrowed his eyes.

“Even when your hands are this cold?”

Yoonyi gently reached out and enveloped the small hand in front of him. As expected, from being outside for so long, the child’s hand was as cold as a snowflake.

“Th-This is…”

Heat rushed to his cheeks in an instant, and he couldn’t even speak properly.

“See, Young Master? I was right, wasn’t I?”

Yoonyi smiled, his eyes crinkling softly, and patted the spot next to him. At that, Hyowon coughed lightly and reluctantly scooted over.

“…You are so kind, Yoonyi.”

A warm and pleasant weight settled on Yoonyi’s shoulder. Hyowon whispered, pressing close as if burrowing into his embrace. The child’s unique warm and sweet scent, tinged with the cold wind, mingled with his breath.

🎐⋆｡🍥

Creak, creak. Yoonyi slowly opened his eyes at the faint sound of the wooden floor groaning in the distance. A red glow was already flickering on the paper window. By his side, the soft, delicate sound of breathing could still be heard.

Looking down, he saw Hyowon fast asleep, using his lap as a pillow. How could he be so adorable even while sleeping? His expression naturally softened into a silly grin. He must have been watching for a long time.

“Oh my? The Young Master is here again?”

Suni, who was entering with hot water and a clean cotton cloth, froze in her tracks as she was about to cross the threshold.

“Sister.”

“How strange.”

Suni, who had finally come inside, still couldn’t sit down and kept tilting her head in deep confusion.

“The Young Master isn’t usually one to let people get so close. He must have taken a liking to you, Yoonyi.”

Suddenly, Suni lowered her voice and glanced at Hyowon. After confirming he was sleeping soundly, she added in a whisper, as if sharing a secret.

“…I like the Young Master, too.”

Yoonyi’s gaze slanted down to the sleeping Hyowon. Long eyelashes rose softly like eaves over his closed eyelids. A round forehead, plumply puffed cheeks, even an adorable nose. He might get a scolding if the Young Master knew he was having such thoughts, but he was a truly lovely child. And what a beautiful heart he had. So, Yoonyi finally revealed his inner thoughts.

“Sigh, I wish you were the Young Master’s attendant instead. Then the Young Master would have someone to confide in.”

Suni, who had been watching them quietly, let out a series of long sighs and added another comment.

“…Confide in?”

“No, no, that was a slip of the tongue.”

When Yoonyi asked, his clear eyes shining, Suni waved her hand as if it were nothing. As if she were trying to hide something.

“By the way, I heard you made up with Makgae?”

“It’s thanks to the Young Master.”

Lest the silence drag on, Suni quickly changed the subject.

“I bet that Makgae fellow got a huge scolding. But well, he’s not a completely bad-natured guy, so try to get along.”

“I will, sister.”

As they were talking, he felt a wriggling, shifting movement from below. At this, Yoonyi closed his mouth and gently looked down.

“Did you wake up, Young Master?”

Yoonyi asked with a bright smile as the clear eyes focused solely on him. At the beautiful sight, like a celestial fairy, Hyowon couldn’t answer and just bit his innocent lips, then curled them inward.

“You’ll hurt yourself if you do that.”

Just as the flower-colored lips were turning white, Yoonyi gently reached out and touched the corner of his mouth. At that, Hyowon scrambled up.

“S-Sorry. It seems I dozed off for a moment.”

Hyowon replied maturely, sitting up straight in a cross-legged position as if nothing had happened. But the imprint from being pressed for a long time was clear on his smooth cheek.

“Young Master, did you sleep well?”

Suni couldn’t hold back her laughter and burst out laughing. A refreshing laugh floated around the quiet room. Hyowon’s complexion, as clear as a spring, instantly turned bright red.

“S-Suni, when did you get here?”

“I came a lo-ong time ago, didn’t I?”

Hyowon quickly stood up, raised a short finger, and demanded an answer. At that, Suni replied with a confident shrug of her shoulders.

“If you came, you should have said, said so. Well then, rest. I have to read my books and…”

Seeing her smirking face, Hyowon’s voice quickly became flustered. He hastily turned his back as if to hide his expression.

“Oh my, the Young Master’s nape is all red.”

Her tone was thick with mischief. No sooner had she finished speaking than a small palm slapped onto the nape of his neck. At this, Yoonyi couldn’t hold it in either and let out a small laugh.

“Y-Yoonyi, you too…”

Hyowon’s jet-black pupils, turning at the sound, trembled helplessly.

“I’m sorry, Young Master.”

Yoonyi hastily covered his lips.

“That’s enough!”

Perhaps a little sulky, Hyowon’s cheeks puffed out. He left with that short remark and deftly crossed the threshold.

“Sigh, when you look at him like this, the Young Master is every bit a ten-year-old.”

Suni, who had been watching him blankly, added a listless comment. For some reason, that remark strangely weighed on his mind. So, when Yoonyi met her gaze steadily, she quickly shook her head.

“I’ll change it for you again before you sleep. Give me your arm.”

Suni expertly took his wrist and unwrapped the cloth that was wound around it.

“This is truly amazing. How long has it been since you came to this house, Yoonyi?”

Before he knew it, the red and purple traces of winter had melted away from the white skin without a trace, and pale flesh was cleanly filling in. Suni, who had been staring at this, let out a stream of admiration. Then she scooped up a generous amount of ointment from the jar, applied it meticulously, and wrapped it again with a cloth.

“Uh…”

“You don’t need to apply any more. This ointment must be truly miraculous. I should keep it safe.”

As Yoonyi just gaped blankly, Suni, who had already finished the treatment, was busy examining the ointment jar from all angles.

🎐⋆｡🍥

The footsteps, which seemed to bounce lightly off the dry wooden floor, finally came to a stop upon reaching the main hall. Hyowon grabbed a pillar and gasped for breath. The chill that had penetrated his core spread throughout his body.

“Honestly, that Suni seems to have made a career out of teasing.”

Hyowon grumbled, glancing behind him. The incident in the inner quarters, too. Yoonyi’s face kept appearing before his eyes.

Hyowon, who had been standing in the main hall, quickly stepped down from the stepping stone and ran across the piled-up snow. As he got closer to the wall of the large sarangchae, the sound of his footsteps in the snow stopped as if by magic. Hyowon, lest he be discovered by someone else, cautiously looked around and quickly crossed the yard. Then he stood in front of the small porch of the servants’ quarters attached to the main gate.

“Gatekeeper, are you inside?”

“…Young Master?”

A delicate voice rang out between the gusts of wind. At that, the old door of the servants’ quarters creaked and opened a slight crack.

“Young Master, why are you here…?”

Hearing the child’s distinctively clear voice, the gatekeeper came running out in his socks. The old man, full of wrinkles, blinked his eyes repeatedly, as if deeply perplexed.

“…I came because there is something I want to ask.”

Hyowon fiddled with his lips for a long time before finally opening his mouth. At the Young Master’s sudden intrusion, gazes from the surroundings gathered. At that, Hyowon’s voice trailed off.

“What are you all doing? Go back to your work!”

Seeing his pitiful state, like a whining puppy, the gatekeeper quickly turned his back and shouted fiercely like a thunderclap. At that, those who had been casting glances quickly closed their doors.

“Please speak, Young Master.”

The gatekeeper asked again in a calm tone, as if nothing had happened.

“I was wondering if you know when my father is returning…”

“The Master?”

His graying eyebrows lifted slightly. Hyowon nodded his head quickly.

“He should be back within a month, but why do you ask?”

“A month?”

Hyowon repeated like an echo. A month was far too long. He couldn’t guarantee he could hide Yoonyi for that long. His jaw dropped, and his vision blurred.

“I sent a letter this morning, anyway. He probably hasn’t gone too far by now. Shall I send one along for you?”