TYMIR Ch 8

He knew, deep down, that the day would come when he would have a younger sibling. But how could it be so sorrowful? Tears flowed endlessly from his reddened eyes.

Even this place, which had always comforted him like a warm nest, felt so unfamiliar today. The cold air rising from the ground and the knife-like wind blowing from the mountain combined, making his exposed skin sting as if it would fall off.

“……Even if I go back, there will be no one waiting for me.”

His exposed nose, raw from the fierce wind, turned bright red. Hyowon dropped his head powerlessly and kicked a nearby stone with a flick. It was then. As a mournful sound, like something snapping, was heard amidst the desolate wind, Hyowon turned his head as if possessed.

“A, a wild boar.”

His jet-black eyes trembled violently. Between the bare winter trees that had lost all their leaves, a house-sized black wild boar was snorting, pawing the ground as if ready to charge at any moment. The tusks that jutted out diagonally were incredibly threatening.

He needed to run, but he was so terrified that his face had turned white, and his legs had given out. The ground, as if it were a sheet of ice, slipped beneath him, making it impossible to stand up. The boar had already slammed its massive hooves onto the frozen ground with a thud, thud, and was closing the distance with fierce momentum.

‘Y-Yoonyi.’

This was all his own fault for throwing a tantrum alone; who could he blame? Hyowon, repeating the name of the last person who came to mind, squeezed his eyes shut. It was then. With a thud, his small body rolled onto the snow-covered ground. If he had been hit by that giant boar, something would have surely broken, but strangely, he felt no pain. So, he cautiously opened his eyes to a slit.

“Y-Yoonyi……?”

The old ribbon tying his hair flew away in the angry wind, and his ebony-black hair cascated down below his shoulder blades.

“Young master, don’t move.”

“Huh?”

He couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality, and was blankly staring at the slender figure, when a clear voice rang in his ear. Only then did Hyowon frantically rub his eyes and face the person standing before him. A fair complexion like skimmed milk and a delicate frame. It was Yoonyi, whom Hyowon had been desperately searching for until the very end.

“I will draw its attention somehow, so you must use that chance to escape, young master. Do you understand?”

“Y-Yoonyi, y-you’re bleeding. On your arm.”

The old quilted jeogori had cotton peeking out in places from the recent impact. His gaze, which had been scanning down, suddenly stopped at the arm. It must have been scratched by the sharp tusk, as red water slowly spread around the arm. At this, Hyowon’s voice trembled.

“Something like this is nothing.”

Yoonyi tilted his head slightly and smiled, as if to deliberately reassure him. Then he firmly gripped a tree branch that had been broken by the knife-like wind and was rolling on the frozen ground. The branch, held in his thin hand, swayed even in the passing breeze.

“Did you hear what I said?”

Hyowon was still frozen stiff, unable to move a muscle. His pale face was so white it looked like he might lose consciousness at any moment, so Yoonyi put strength into his voice once again.

“……N-no. I-I can’t just leave you and go alone.”

“If you do that, we will both be in danger.”

Hyowon, uncharacteristically stubborn, shook his head wildly. At that, Yoonyi raised his voice for the first time. The boar, having tasted blood, licked its snout with its long tongue as if savoring the taste, and then stomped its feet.

OINK!

“Run away! Young master!”

The massive body charged at a tremendous speed. He could not lose the young master so helplessly. With the sole thought of protecting him, Yoonyi threw his body forward, rushing in front of Hyowon. His eyes squeezed shut on their own in terror.

“Aha, what a wretched beast!”

Squeal!

Along with the voice of an unfamiliar man, a loud thud was heard, as if something huge had crashed to the ground. Only then did Yoonyi slowly open his closed eyelids.

“……W-what is this.”

The scene that unfolded was truly astonishing. The man, who had appeared as suddenly as the wind, had subdued the monstrous boar in an instant. It was unclear how he had done it, but the boar, which had been exuding a tremendous aura, barely managed to get up and bolted towards the mountain.

“Y-Yoonyi.”

As the commotion subsided, Hyowon, who had been hiding behind him, clung tightly to Yoonyi’s waist like a cicada.

“Ha, you intended to fight that thing with just that, all to protect that little one?”

“……I do not know who you are, but thank you for saving us.”

The man, who had just noticed Hyowon, could not hold back his rising laughter. His refreshing laughter echoed as if commanding the mountain. Yoonyi grabbed the small, still-growing hands wrapped around his waist and belatedly bowed deeply.

“……As I thought, it’s you.”

The smile that had graced the man’s handsome face was instantly erased. A faint golden light flickered in his jet-black eyes. The man’s eyes flashed like a beast’s as he abruptly closed the distance. Then he stared intently at Yoonyi’s face. As if he had something he wanted to say.

“……W-why are you doing this?”

It felt as if his skin would cook under that fiercely burning gaze. Yoonyi took a step back, faltering, and moved his lips.

“Never mind, there will be a day we meet again soon.”

Then the man’s gaze briefly rested on Hyowon, who was dangling from his waist, before falling away. And so, the man left behind those cryptic words and headed for the mountain. His back, passing between the bare trees, disappeared as quietly as smoke.

“By the way, young master, are you alright?”

Yoonyi, who had been staring blankly at the mountain entrance as if his soul had been stolen, finally checked on Hyowon. The child’s face, which used to be as glossy as freshly cooked rice grains, was now frozen and flushed red in places.

“……hic. I-I’m sorry, Yoonyi.”

As their eyes met, tears welled up in his clear eyes like a reservoir. Hyowon couldn’t take his eyes off the arm stained with blood and just kept shedding tears.

“It’s just a light scratch. Are you hurt anywhere, young master?”

“I’m fine. It’s because of me that you….”

Yoonyi gently wiped away the flowing tears with his sleeve and smiled with his eyes crinkled. Hyowon, captivated by that sun-like smile, mumbled his lips. His pronunciation was all slurred from the cold, making it difficult to even understand properly.

“You’re the one who’s going to catch a cold at this rate, young master. Hurry and get on my back.”

As the child’s legs were still trembling and unsteady, Yoonyi quickly offered his back. Hyowon then leaned his body without any reply. In the cold winter, the unique, intense warmth of a child was fully transmitted. From his back, the sound of hiccup, hiccup was incessant. From the cloudy sky, snowflakes began to scatter once again.

🎐⋆｡🍥

As the dim darkness began to settle, the small annex, with the low back mountain as its backdrop, came into view. At this, Yoonyi’s steps gradually slowed. Seen this way, Hyowon’s residence, the small annex, seemed like a solitary island. The faint light emanating from it felt exceptionally warm.

“Young master! Yoonyi!”

Just then, Suni and Manseok, who had been pacing anxiously in front of the side gate, quickly closed the distance and approached.

“My goodness, what is this state you’re in……. Don’t tell me you were beaten by the master?”

Suni, who had come right up to them, was horrified to see Yoonyi covered in dirt and his arm all bloody.

“No, older sister, this is just….”

“We just went somewhere for a bit. But why isn’t Makgae here?”

As Yoonyi hesitated to answer, Hyowon, who was next to him, subtly changed the subject.

“He appears to be in the kitchen.”

“Still?”

At the all-too-honest answer, Suni nudged Manseok with her elbow. Hyowon, with a sigh, asked again as if to confirm. At that, the two tilted their eyes downward and slowly nodded.

“I have no idea whose servant he is.”

A sense of loneliness settled on the small face, stained with scratches. Hyowon drooped his shoulders and went through the side gate first. Yoonyi’s gaze was momentarily captivated by the dejected back.

“We were so worried when you were dragged away like that earlier.”

Then Suni, after hesitating, finally moved her lips. It seemed she felt sorry for not having been able to do anything when he was being dragged away.

“Did nothing really happen?”

“Yes, thanks to the young master.”

“……The young master?”

As if Yoonyi’s answer was very unexpected, the two looked at each other and tilted their heads.

“Why are you acting like that?”

“Ah, no. It’s just that the young master is not one to step up like that. But is that true?”

Suni, after a brief pause, suddenly lowered her voice. As if whispering a very secret secret. At that moment, Manseok’s eyes shot up fiercely.

“What does it matter? Everyone is talking about it. You know, about how the master is completely… because of the madam’s pregnancy.”

“……Ah.”

Suni, who had been glancing around, managed to finally break the silence. At that moment, the image of the affectionate couple he had seen during the day flickered in his mind. And in front of them, Hyowon, sitting forlornly and at a loss like a forgotten scarecrow. Yoonyi let out a short, stifled sigh.

“It must be true, seeing your reaction. Oh dear, how did I end up in the small annex.”

Simultaneously, Yoonyi’s empty eyes took in Suni. She sighed deeply, staring blankly over the wall. A hint of loneliness could even be seen in her bitter expression.

“It’s not too late yet, so if you can, Yoonyi, you should go to the main building.”

“……What? What do you mean?”

Suni casually tossed out a very unexpected remark. She didn’t seem like the person who had treated Hyowon so kindly all this time. The corners of Yoonyi’s eyes quietly contorted.

“What kind of things are you saying to a child?”

Manseok put force into his voice, as if he couldn’t listen any longer.

“Well, it’s true, isn’t it? The master is already head over heels for the madam, and now she’s even pregnant.”

“Older sister, I’m sorry. I’m going to go see the young master.”

Yoonyi didn’t even wait for a reply and quickly ran into the annex. He knew what would follow without having to hear it.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Young master.”

His steps stopped not at the end room where he always stayed, but in front of the main room of the annex, from which a sweet scent wafted thickly. The flickering lamplight cast a delicate shadow on the white papered door. For a long while, he just stared at the faintly spreading silhouette. Still, no answer came from within.

“I’m coming in, young master.”

Knowing it was rude, but unable to leave him alone, Yoonyi cautiously pulled the door open. On the thick cushion, Hyowon sat properly, not even having changed his clothes.

“Aren’t you going to have supper?”

At the soft voice, the gaze that had been fixed on his feet traveled up his instep and finally met his eyes. The pale area around his eyes was now red and swollen. Hyowon shook his head slowly instead of answering.

“You must be hungry, shall I go to the kitchen and get you something?”

Yoonyi slowly approached and sat down gently in front of him. Then he gazed at the small face and asked again.

“……Yoonyi.”

For a long while, the pale peach-colored lips trembled in the air. A slightly lower voice than usual echoed softly.

“Yes, young master.”

“You’re not going to leave, are you?”

Hyowon asked an incomprehensible question with a sigh. The child’s clear eyes instantly became turbid. Yoonyi narrowed his eyes and stared at the small, hunched shoulders.

“Just look at that fellow Makgae, he’s a personal servant, yet he wanders around like that. Suni and Manseok will probably want to go somewhere else too. It’ll be even more so now that my mother is pregnant….”

“Young master. Look at me.”

“Actually, I know how you feel. If I were a more respectable presence, you too, Yoonyi….”

The dejected child’s gaze only lingered on the floor. Watching him, an indescribably hot emotion surged. So, without realizing it, Yoonyi reached out and covered the mumbling lips. Instantly silenced, Hyowon stared at Yoonyi with wide, rabbit-like eyes.

“Young master! Don’t say such things. If you keep saying such hateful things, I will really follow Makgae hyungnim.”

Yoonyi adopted a deliberately stern tone. At that, the gentle eyes trembled rapidly.

“No, how can you say something so harsh. Don’t leave me. I only said that because I was worried about you….”

A small hand suddenly reached out and clutched the front of Yoonyi’s jeogori. He gripped it so tightly that faint veins were visible on his smooth hand. The sight was both pitiful and lovely. A truly complex emotion churned his heart.

“I will never leave you, young master.”

Worry still pooled deeply like a well in the small, pebble-like face. Yoonyi, as if remembering something, fumbled in his clothes and then pulled something out.

“……Why are you giving this to me?”

Hyowon quietly looked down at the familiar light pink paper. It was what he had secretly given Yoonyi whenever he had trouble swallowing his medicinal decoction. The face that had been deeply clouded with worry was now slowly filled with curiosity.

“Because you look like you’ve just drunk a medicinal decoction today, young master.”

Rustle, rustle, Yoonyi carefully unwrapped the paper and held the hangwa, densely packed with white rice puffs, close to Hyowon’s mouth. At that, the cute lips parted slightly.

“……It’s sweet.”

As the sweet taste spread from the tip of his tongue to fill his mouth, he felt as if the worries that had pooled in his heart were being washed away as well. Hyowon’s clear eyes shone as he stared intently at Yoonyi.

“Since Makgae hyungnim is not here today, I will prepare your bedding for you.”

As the child’s innocent gaze enveloped his whole body, Yoonyi suddenly stood up and evenly spread the neatly folded bedding from on top of the chest onto the warmest part of the floor.

“Yoonyi.”

“Yes, young master.”

His touch was still neat and meticulous. Hyowon, who had been quietly watching him, spoke again. At this, Yoonyi quietly gave him his attention.

“From now on, I will study harder too.”

“You should.”

Hyowon, who had been so dejected, blossomed freshly again. The sight was just so lovely that Yoonyi replied with a pleased smile.

“I will grow up quickly so that you won’t get hurt like you did today…….”

His cheeks, frozen from the cold, were still rosy. The small lips fidgeted, as if there was still more to say. At this, Yoonyi just waited quietly.

“So, Yoona. Will you be my personal servant?”

Hyowon’s luscious eyes shone softly, as if holding the moonlight. At the child’s innocent gaze that was hard to ignore, Yoonyi nodded his head instead of answering. Only then did the stiffly frozen Hyowon break into a bright smile that filled his face.

🎐⋆｡🍥

At the bluish dawn, Yoonyi’s closed eyelids gently fluttered open. Under the flickering lamplight, he saw Hyowon sleeping soundly. The long, dense eyelashes on his pale eyelids were elegantly curled at the ends, like looking at the ornate tiles on the roof of the main building.

While looking fondly at the sleeping child’s face, wondering how he could be so lovely, he saw a short leg sticking out of the bedding. Yoonyi pulled the blanket up tightly to cover him and stepped out over the threshold.

Far on the horizon, the sun was just beginning to rise, peeking its head out and emitting a faint light.

“Manseok hyungnim.”

Just then, he saw Manseok quietly pushing open the side gate. Feeling a sense of welcome, Yoonyi quickly got up from his seated position and approached him. Even he, who usually had no expression, had the corners of his eyebrows slightly raised.

“Why aren’t you sleeping more?”

“I couldn’t sleep. Ah, hyungnim, I was so out of it yesterday that I couldn’t tell you. I’m going to be staying here from now on.”

“Uh, I heard from Suni.”

“Please take good care of me from now on.”

“What do you mean, take good care. But something did happen with the young master yesterday, right?”

Yoonyi said, rubbing the tip of his red nose. At that, Manseok, who had been staring at him, lowered his voice and asked very secretly. He couldn’t bring himself to speak of the worry pooled in that small face. So, Yoonyi’s gaze tilted sideways.

“Still, it’s a relief that he seems to rely on you a bit. Instead of staying here, let’s go see the family in the servants’ quarters.”

“……The family in the servants’ quarters?”

“They should all be gathered by now.”

Manseok seemed to be thinking for a moment, then he put down the A-frame carrier he was wearing on his back in a corner of the yard and gestured for him to follow. At this, Yoonyi trotted after him.

Leaving the small annex, where the dawn air lingered calmly, and approaching the main building, it was bustling with the sounds of people starting their morning. Every time Yoonyi took a step, gazes followed him like shadows.

“……Excuse me, hyungnim.”

“Don’t mind them.”

As Yoonyi spoke cautiously at the gazes that followed him persistently, Manseok, as if he knew, stopped and shook his head. Over the low wall, a savory smell wafted gently. After walking along the winding wall, the main gate soon came into view. And next to it, the long gatehouse was visible.

“Come in.”

When Manseok stepped onto the narrow wooden porch first, the hesitant Yoonyi followed. A wave of warm air poured out from the slightly open gap in the door. As he crossed the threshold in a daze, dozens of eyes that had been gathered around a brazier poured onto him as if they had been waiting.

“……Gatekeeper. I brought him.”

“So you’re Yoonyi.”

Manseok spoke to the elderly man. The old man approached with a warm smile and slow steps and took his hand. The rough fingertips were incredibly warm.