TYMIR Ch 9

“Do you know me…?”

As Yoonyi asked, blinking with a bewildered face, laughter could be heard from here and there.

“After the young master caused such a scene, who wouldn’t know.”

Following the sharp tone that grazed his ear, he turned his head and saw Makgae leaning against the wall, sitting crookedly. He still had his torn-looking eyes fiercely glaring, as if displeased.

“Aish, really. Makgae, why are you being like that since the morning.”

A woman sitting nearby forcefully struck Makgae on the back.

“Ah, why. Am I not right?”

“Can’t you be quiet!”

Despite that, Makgae raised his voice defiantly. Unable to watch any longer, the Gatekeeper shouted so loudly it felt like the floor was shaking. His voice was so loud it made one’s eardrums ring. Startled, Yoonyi’s eyes widened so much it seemed his pupils would roll out, and he didn’t know what to do.

“The kid must be even more startled by the old man’s voice.”

Then, an elderly woman suddenly approached and patted Yoonyi on the back. In response, Yoonyi shook his head, saying he was fine.

“I’m Suni’s mom. You’ve met Suni, right? Everyone calls me Yeonggil’s wife, so if you’re looking for me, don’t wander around and just come to the kitchen.”

Her kind and round face overlapped with Suni’s.

“I’m Y-Yoonyi.”

“Just as Suni said, you’re so pretty.”

“Pretty, my foot. What’s the point of a boy being pretty.”

At Yeonggil’s wife’s words, Makgae once again retorted crookedly.

“Everyone’s in a tough situation, so don’t hate each other and get along well. Only if we stay quiet can the master be at ease.”

The Gatekeeper cleared his throat with a “ahem, ahem,” and then shouted loudly again.

“Yes, yes, I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that already.”

Another man who was twisting a rope of straw answered half-heartedly.

“I’m Samnom. Manseok’s friend.”

Suddenly, a man with a missing tooth came up and stated his name. At this, Yoonyi bowed his head once more.

“Aish, what is everyone doing, crowding around Yoonyi.”

Suni, who was just crossing the threshold, saw the figures gathered in a circle and approached, waving her hands in dismissal.

“Sister.”

Never had he been so happy to see her as today; Yoonyi called out to her with a bright face.

“Did my brother bring you?”

“Yes, even if you’re staying in the small cottage, you should greet the family in the servants’ quarters.”

Gesturing slightly, Suni subtly gave a look to Manseok.

“Who said he’s staying in the small cottage?”

Just then, Makgae, who had been listening quietly, questioned with a shocked expression.

“Since His Excellency has given his permission, it’s only natural for him to stay. What are you nitpicking about?”

“I don’t approve!”

Makgae’s eyes immediately turned fierce, and he ran out. Now they were even trying to take in and shelter some nobody from who knows where in the small cottage. Even after screaming his lungs out, his anger didn’t subside.

Having gone outside, Makgae stared intently at the servants’ quarters, from which laughter continuously leaked out.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Young Master.”

“Come in.”

The sun, which had risen brilliantly, was now casting a red glow through the window. As Makgae, who was staring at the faintly shimmering shadow, spoke, a reply came back immediately.

“Young Master. How could you do this?”

“What are you talking about.”

No sooner had he crossed the threshold than Makgae was busy pouring out his complaints. Hyowon, who had finished his early morning wash, sat on a brocade cushion in a clean jeogori and answered, staring blankly at him. The child’s distinctively sharp voice was prominent.

“I’m talking about that Yoonyi. You said you decided to keep him in the small cottage.”

Makgae plopped down in front of Hyowon. There was not a shred of hesitation in his actions. Watching this, Hyowon’s eyelids crumpled silently.

“…Did you come here since morning just to argue about that?”

After a long silence, Hyowon asked calmly.

“Sometimes I get confused. Whose servant you are.”

“…Pardon? What do you mean.”

At the sharply pouring tone, Makgae’s Adam’s apple trembled faintly.

“I didn’t see you since yesterday afternoon. Weren’t you the one who turned away from me first, blinded by the gifts my father brought?”

Whenever Lord Kim returned from Hanyang, he always came with a cart full of gifts. It was familiar for the underlings to be blinded by greed. But for his own servant, of all people, to neglect him. For him to then turn around and argue was truly absurd. Hyowon’s gentle eyes were instantly filled with coldness.

“N-no. T-that is…”

“I let it slide every time you acted insolently. You are truly shameless.”

From his flower-dyed lips, words colder than the north wind poured out ceaselessly. At the biting, sharp tone, Makgae felt as if he were facing a different person and rubbed his eyes without realizing it.

“…I-I am sorry, Young Master. This servant dared to talk back to you, and on top of that…”

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Makgae finally bowed his head and began to beg. But nothing registered in Hyowon’s eyes. Hyowon slightly shifted his upright posture.

“Enough. You didn’t want to attend to me from the beginning. This is for the better. I’ll just have to report everything in detail.”

“Y-Young Master…!”

Hyowon, finishing his words with a relieved face, completely turned his back. Faced with the little master’s coldness for the first time, Makgae’s jaw dropped as if it would fall off.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Did you really decide to become the young master’s servant?”

The two had stopped by the kitchen to get their breakfast and were leisurely heading towards the small cottage. At Suni’s question, Yoonyi, after a moment’s hesitation, shyly nodded his head.

“…The young master asked me to.”

“That’s great. I think a calm person like you is better than the reckless Makgae.”

Then Suni let out a deep sigh and agreed.

“But I feel so sorry for Makgae hyungnim, I don’t know what to do…”

“Sorry for what. Just look at yesterday, he’s the one who abandoned the young master and stayed in the servants’ quarters. If it were me, I’d do the same.”

A small cloud formed on his little face. Watching him, Suni lightly pushed him with her forearm and took his side.

“Don’t worry too much about it. As you can probably tell from the atmosphere, not many people want to come to the small cottage, so the young master won’t be able to completely cast Makgae out.”

“Do you think so?”

Yoonyi slightly lifted his round eyes. As if to reassure him, Suni smiled brightly.

“Of course, he’s not that cold of a person.”

A cold wind fiercely swept past their exposed skin. Hurrying their steps like that, they passed through the side gate leading to the small cottage, and a yard with freshly fallen snow spread out before them like a blank canvas. But for some reason, Makgae was squatting on the wooden porch, his shoulders slumped.

“Makgae, what are you doing sitting there?”

As he was addressed first, Makgae’s gaze, which had been fixed on the endlessly piled snow, slowly rose. Without answering the question, Makgae stared intently at Yoonyi, who was next to Suni. The slender shoulders flinched for a moment at the fierce intensity.

“What’s wrong with him since the morning.”

Suni glanced at him as if it were nothing and walked past.

“The rolling stone drives out the settled one, as they say.”

Just as Yoonyi was about to follow, a rough hand swiftly snatched his wrist. Unable to hide his anger in the slightest, Makgae glared for a long while and then deliberately bumped his shoulder into him. A sharp pain shot through his bones, and his slender body staggered before barely regaining balance.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Young Master, did something happen with Makgae?”

“Just leave the breakfast and go.”

Suni, who had gently placed the small dining table to one side, showed no sign of leaving even though her task was done. At this, Hyowon, who had been sitting upright, pointedly turned his body away.

“If you do that, Yoonyi will have a hard time.”

Suni, who had been glancing furtively at his thoroughly sulking form, murmured suggestively. Only then did Hyowon’s eyes waver powerlessly.

“H-how did the conversation jump like that?”

Hyowon quickly composed his expression and shot a look at Suni.

“It didn’t jump at all. With a hand gone, it’s only natural that Yoonyi will have more work to do.”

“Now that I hear it, that’s… right.”

Unlike the main house where hands were plenty, here every single hand was precious. There was firewood to chop. There was kitchen work. The snow had to be swept all winter. His little head was spinning furiously. After a long moment of gathering his thoughts, a deep breath escaped through Hyowon’s teeth.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll take back Makgae’s punishment.”

Hyowon reluctantly moved his lips.

“Yes, that’s a good thought. He’s probably reflected on his actions enough.”

“I really can’t win against you.”

“Shall I have Yoonyi come in then?”

As the sharp gaze still rested on her, Suni gently rose. Only then did Hyowon quietly nod his head.

“Oh my, you scared me. Why are you here and not coming in?”

When she opened the door, Yoonyi, who had turned as white as snow, was standing there stiffly. Startled as well, Suni’s shoulders jumped.

“Ah, I thought you were talking…”

“Go on in, the young master was just looking for you.”

Suni smiled, wrinkling her nose, and pointed inside.

“Yoonyi!”

Hyowon’s face, which had been so thoroughly cross just moments before, melted away as if spring had arrived.

“How is your arm?”

“I applied the ointment you gave me well, so it’s fine.”

Hyowon, who had trotted over, held his head high and couldn’t take his eyes off Yoonyi. Worried that his gloom might be contagious, Yoonyi quickly folded his eyes into a smile.

“That’s a relief. Have you had breakfast?”

Only then did a sigh of relief escape the small lips. Hyowon waved his slender hand and then quickly patted the spot next to him. At this, Yoonyi reluctantly took a step.

“Let’s eat together.”

“How can a lowly person like myself share a table with the young master?”

As soon as Yoonyi sat on the floor, Hyowon pushed forward the chopsticks placed beside him and smiled brightly. He was a truly unpretentious young master. Still, wondering how he could suggest eating breakfast with a servant, Yoonyi hesitated and slightly shook his head.

“Then I’ll just have this taken away too.”

“Pardon?”

As the small body tilted slightly, his chubby cheeks bulged even more. This was pure stubbornness. When the very flustered Yoonyi asked again.

“What’s the fun in eating alone?”

Only then did Hyowon murmur softly.

“Just this once. Understand, Young Master?”

Anyway, at times like this, it felt like he had gained a younger brother he wasn’t destined to have. Yoonyi scooped up a round mound of fluffy rice and, bringing it close to Hyowon’s pouting lips, adopted a rather stern tone.

“I understand. You’re so strict.”

Hyowon’s gentle eyes narrowed in an instant to the size of a needlepoint. Nevertheless, his tightly closed lips opened roundly like a baby bird receiving food. Yoonyi, looking like he could die from the cuteness, barely suppressed a rising smile.

“Is there something on my face?”

As Yoonyi kept smiling faintly, Hyowon wiped his cheek with his palm and asked.

“No, I was just thinking for a moment what it would be like if I had a younger brother like you, Young Master.”

“…A younger brother?”

Hyowon, hesitating, asked back with a puzzled face.

“Yes, if I had a younger brother like you, Young Master, I think anything I did would have been joyful.”

“Ahem, well, if I were your younger brother, Yoonyi, I don’t think it would be so bad either.”

A lovely smile spread gently like sunshine across his fine face. Hyowon’s chubby cheeks, as he stared half-entranced at the beautiful figure, flushed shyly.

“So, today you’re stopping by the inner quarters, and then going to your teacher’s house?”

After their intimate time had passed and all preparations were complete, Yoonyi asked carefully.

“That’s right.”

Yoonyi, who was trailing behind him, quickly went down below the veranda and straightened the small leather shoes. Makgae’s eyes, watching the scene while sweeping the snow, twisted fiercely.

“Why are you looking at me with such fierce eyes?”

“N-no, it’s nothing, Young Master.”

Hyowon, who was walking ahead, sensed the unusual atmosphere and asked as if he didn’t know, prompting Makgae to hastily turn his back and diligently sweep the snow.

“Let’s go.”

Hyowon quickly pulled on the slender wrist.

🎐⋆｡🍥

Upon crossing the middle gate that connected the main men’s quarters and the inner quarters, red flower petals could be seen blooming profusely even in the harsh wind. Yoonyi took this in with his eyes as he followed Hyowon. Behind the beautifully tended small inner courtyard, a U-shaped inner building, enclosed on all sides, appeared. In contrast to the splendid main quarters, it exuded a neat yet cozy atmosphere.

“Has Mother awoken?”

“Yes, Young Master. Shall I announce you?”

Hyowon slowly nodded his head.

“My lady, the young master has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

Soon, a gentle voice was heard from inside. Hyowon glanced back, gesturing with his eyes as if to ask him to wait a moment. At that, Yoonyi gently stepped aside.

“Did you have a peaceful night.”

“Thanks to you. But what brings you here.”

He had worried she might not be receptive, but thankfully, Madam Han’s complexion looked decidedly brighter than yesterday. When she pointed to the cushion in front of her, Hyowon cautiously approached and sat upon it.

“The thing is…”

“Didn’t His Lordship also say so. Don’t find it difficult, just speak.”

To tell his mother everything first. It was one of the prices exchanged for Yoonyi. Nevertheless, his mouth wouldn’t open readily, and Hyowon, who had only been swallowing dryly, finally moved his lips.

“I want to change my personal servant…”

“If you mean a personal servant, isn’t that Makgae?”

Madam Han seemed to roll her eyes upward for a moment before meeting his gaze directly.

“Yes, that is correct.”

“I thought he was quite attached to you. Why so suddenly?”

He couldn’t bring himself to explain all the past events in detail. To be precise, he wasn’t sure where to even begin the story. And so, he just hesitated.

“Well, if there’s some discomfort, you should do as you please, Hyowon. So, are you planning to cast that Makgae out?”

For a moment, Madam Han’s neat, dark eyebrows lifted slightly and then returned to their place.

“N-no. I intend to keep him in the quarters, but I was wondering what you thought, Mother.”

“It is a matter of your residence, so do as you feel comfortable.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

He hadn’t expected permission to be granted so readily, so Hyowon showed a slightly dazed expression.

“Do you wish to have that new child as your personal servant?”

“…Yes.”

Just as he was composing his expression and putting strength into the tips of his toes to slowly stand, Madam Han narrowed her eyes and asked. Hyowon hesitated for a moment before answering.