TYMIR Ch 2

His fair face filled with bewilderment, Hyowon quickly composed his expression and calmed his tone.

“I was just wiping his body one more time since Manseok-orabeoni*  brought some medicinal plaster. But what about you, Young Master?”

Suni answered, briefly showing him the brass basin still steaming faintly, a cotton cloth, and a small jar. Then, she persistently clung to her lingering question.

“……I-I, that is. I just couldn’t sleep, so I stopped by.”

“You didn’t come to see if there was any improvement, did you?”

He could no longer hide it. And so, Hyowon merely mumbled with his lips, appropriately averting the piercing gaze. Suni inwardly swallowed a laugh at the young master’s charming antics.

“That’s right……”

“Come closer and see.”

Hyowon’s voice gradually faded. At this, Suni quickly made way for him by the head of the bed. Just a while ago, his skin was all bright red as if burned, but now, except for the places where a heat rash had bloomed, it was much better.

“I will stay and watch a little longer, so Suni, you go and rest first.”

The worry he had buried, that the person might turn into a beast again, stealthily reared its head. As Hyowon spoke in a low voice, Suni got up with a very reluctant face.

“To not wake up despite all this commotion.”

When everyone had finally left, Hyowon lowered his gaze. The blanket was rising and falling faintly. The sleeping person still showed no signs of waking. A sudden worry took precedence, wondering when he would regain consciousness, or if he would at all.

A transparent bead of sweat, like a jade marble, trickled down his round forehead. At that, a rather nimble hand picked up the cotton cloth placed nearby and gently wiped it away. Every time the hand touched him, his closed eyelids fluttered faintly, like the wings of a butterfly.

Listening to the warm heat rising from the floor and the even breathing, he too was overcome with drowsiness. Before long, the boy’s straight posture as he sat began to slowly crumble.

🎐⋆｡🍥

Whine, whimper.

While sleeping soundly for a good while, the cry of a weak beast pierced his ears. At the unfamiliar sound he had never heard anywhere, Hyowon barely managed to open his eyelids. It was pitch black all around, as if even his pupils had been steeped in darkness.

‘What’s that sound.’

By the time his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, a faint moonlight shone through the paper-paned window. His gaze, which had been wandering in the air, naturally turned towards the blanket. But the figure that had been lying neatly there was gone, and a bundle of cotton bolls had taken its place.

“……So I, I wasn’t seeing things after all.”

Hyowon’s lips, which had been closed like a clam, parted powerlessly. At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, the fox’s pointed ears twitched in the air. Soon, bright yellow eyes pierced through the darkness and turned towards him. As if it didn’t even have the strength to be on guard, the body that was trying to stand on its small front paws collapsed helplessly and buried itself back into the blanket.

“It’s alright.”

Hyowon slowly closed the distance and reached out his hand. At that, the fox, as fair as a snowflake, rubbed its head against his fingertips as if by a lie. It was so soft that with every brush of fur between his fingers, it felt as if his heart was melting.

“You are truly gentle and lovely.”

Hyowon smiled innocently and gently stroked the soft fur. Every time he did, a weak sound, kkiwoong, flowed from its small mouth.

“I’m so glad I was the first one to see you.”

The fox, which had been quietly receiving his touch, soon lost its strength and curled its body into a ball. As Hyowon spoke to it again, its black eyes blinked slowly.

“You have no idea how scared I was that Makgae would see you first.”

His temperament wasn’t that bad, but his mouth was so loose that there was no telling what might happen. Just as the hand that had been carefully stroking its head was about to pull away, a pink tongue emerged to meet it and lightly licked his fern-like fingers.

Whimper.

The fox cried softly, as if in response.

“Tomorrow, you must get well.”

Hyowon withdrew his warm touch and smiled brightly. The fact that it neither ran away nor bit him made it a truly lovely beast.

🎐⋆｡🍥

It was early morning, a little before dawn. Suni, who had entered with a basin of steaming hot water, went wide-eyed the moment she crossed the threshold.

“Oh my? Why is the Young Master still here?”

Approaching his side, Suni carefully placed the brass basin on the floor. On the cozy mattress, two people were lying side-by-side, their foreheads touching. What’s more, the much smaller Hyowon had both his short legs stretched out onto the bare floor. He was so deeply asleep that he didn’t wake even when a chill wind, cold enough to nip at the nose, rushed in.

“Anyway, I wonder if that Makgae fellow isn’t running around all over the place looking for him again.”

Suni, who had been watching the small, lovely scene with a pleased expression, belatedly narrowed her eyes and muttered.

“……Should I wake him?”

No matter how young, a nobleman was a nobleman. She couldn’t readily touch him, and a deep worry settled on her round, broad face. After hesitating, Suni quickly averted her gaze and looked at the child the young master had brought.

“He looks much better than yesterday.”

The complexion, which had been flushed red as if dripped with candle wax, had calmed down completely in just one day. With a practiced hand, Suni carefully wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with a dry cloth.

“By the way, how can he be so pretty. No matter how young he is. He looks just like a girl.”

Small, delicate features were arranged neatly on a fair face. She had thought him pretty at a glance, but looking closely, his face was truly lovely. Forgetting even to wipe the sweat, Suni stared intently at the sleeping person’s face as if it were a mirror.

“Who?”

Suddenly, a cold breeze brushed past her back, and a rough voice echoed.

“Manseok-orabeoni!”

As Suni turned, a reddish blush spread like a fog across her cheeks.

“What about what?”

At Manseok’s question, Suni quickly brought her index finger to her nose. At that, his gaze dropped. Despite the slight commotion, Hyowon still showed no signs of waking.

“Why is the Young Master here?”

“He must have come last night and fallen asleep just like that.”

Only then did Manseok lower his voice. Suni replied nonchalantly and slowly unwrapped the cloth from the slender wrist. She had surely applied a thick plaster to the red, frostbitten wound, so even without looking, pus must have been oozing out. At the difficult-to-face sight, Suni squeezed her eyes shut.

“……Huh?”

Her closed eyelids slowly parted, and Suni’s low voice shot up in an instant. It was a truly strange thing. Where the cloth had been removed, instead of discharge, new flesh was slowly forming and healing. At this, Manseok, who had been leaning against the wall, asked, ‘Why?’ and closed the distance.

“Orabeoni, this…”

Suni showed him the wrist. Even Manseok, who rarely reacted, was quite surprised, the whites of his eyes showing clearly.

“Does it normally heal this fast?”

“Well, no matter how good the medicine is, I don’t think it would be to this extent…”

When Suni finally blinked and asked, Manseok’s firm voice lost its strength and wavered. The two of them faced each other for a long while, tilting their heads.

“Nui, the Young Master!”

Thump, thump. Along with the sound of angry footsteps, the tightly closed paper screen door was thrown open without warning. Makgae’s complexion was paler than the morning frost. The moment his eyes met Suni’s, he let out a shout.

“Wh-What is it.”

At the roar that made the small room echo like a cave, Hyowon, who had been sleeping soundly, started in alarm. Sleepiness still lingered here and there on his small face.

“……Y-Young Master?”

“Why is there such a commotion so early in the morning.”

When he saw Hyowon buried deep in the thick cotton blanket, Makgae’s eyes flew open. Hyowon asked in a slightly lower voice than usual.

“You have no idea how much I’ve been looking for you, Young Master.”

Makgae slammed the door shut as he entered and glared pointedly at Hyowon. A hint of resentment was mixed in his voice. His gaze was so cold it felt as if snowflakes were fluttering. Hyowon couldn’t say anything in response and just moved his lips, fidgeting. In any case, it was his fault for leaving his spot without a word.

“Oh my, Makgae, that’s enough. The Young Master must have been tired and fallen asleep.”

As the atmosphere grew tense before dawn, Suni, who was caught in the middle, quickly got up and soothed Makgae.

“Nui, please!”

“It’s not good to cause a commotion in the morning either.”

He had searched from the small sarangbang to the kitchen and the storehouse, but somehow the atmosphere felt like he was the only one being blamed, which made his resentment boil even more. Makgae roughly shook off Suni’s hand from his shoulder. At that, Manseok’s eyes twisted fiercely.

“I am sorry for leaving my spot without a word.”

In case it escalated into a big fight. The lips that had been curled inward finally formed words. In that moment, everyone’s gaze focused on one spot. Nevertheless, Makgae, his anger still not appeased, huffed and puffed and left the room.

“When will he ever fix that fiery temper of his.”

Manseok, who had been watching him, muttered quietly.

“Young Master……”

“It’s alright.”

Suni still couldn’t take her eyes off Hyowon. Hyowon showed a faint smile.

“……Uungh.”

Suddenly, a strange sound came from below. The closed eyelids looked as if they would roll up at any moment.

“Young Master, I think he’s waking up now!”

Suni chattered excitedly with a bright face. Despite the commotion beside him, Hyowon nodded and couldn’t take his eyes away.

🎐⋆｡🍥

At the voice that seemed to tickle his ear, the closed eyelids slowly opened. He had been with his eyes closed for so long that his vision was blurry and he couldn’t see anything. Yoonyi slowly closed and opened his eyes several times.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

Before he knew it, Suni had craned her neck and brought her face right up close to ask. The blurry vision gradually became clearer, and a round face filled his entire field of view.

“……Wh-Who.”

No matter how he looked, they were complete strangers. Instinctively frightened, Yoonyi’s voice trembled unusually.

“You don’t remember anything?”

“He probably wouldn’t. The only time he was conscious was briefly when he was carried here.”

At Suni’s question, Manseok, unable to watch any longer, suddenly interjected. When the face of a strange, burly man with a thick beard came into view, the thoroughly frightened Yoonyi’s shoulders curled inward.

“Our Young Master brought you here after you collapsed under the wall.”

“A Y-Young Master?”

If he was a young master, he must be a nobleman. There was a chance he could be a man like Lord Lee. With the sole thought of survival, Yoonyi tensed his ankles to run. But, for some reason, his entire body was stiff, and as heavy as if someone were dangling from his waist, so he couldn’t get up.

“Whoa, whoa, you can’t get up yet. Stay lying down.”

Suni waved her palms in the air, trying to stop him. Only then did Yoonyi roll his jet-black eyes around. The small room was extremely neat. To the point where there wasn’t a single hole in the paper-paned window. They must have changed his clothes too, as the ones that had been stained and torn with dirt and dust were now fair like new.

“I-I have to go.”

But he couldn’t let his guard down. How could he stay put in a place he didn’t know? And so, Yoonyi propped himself up on the mattress with his gaunt arms, trying to get up again and again. But every time he pushed himself up, his thin arms gave way powerlessly like tree branches, like a newborn animal.

The moment Suni tried to support his collapsing arm, Yoonyi flinched and shuddered in fright. Looking at him trembling, as if he would foam at the mouth and faint at any moment, Hyowon parted his lips.

“Everyone, you may leave.”

The child’s clear, ringing voice instantly took control of the noisy atmosphere. Yoonyi, who had been curled up and trembling pitifully, stealthily rolled his eyes to look in the direction the sound came from. A fair, beautiful child, as white as snow and much smaller than himself, came into view.

“Y-Young Master, what are you going to do all by yourself?”

“It’s alright, so please leave.”

Suni and Manseok looked at each other with extremely troubled faces. But what if he turned into a fox again in the meantime? Feeling a sense of urgency himself, Hyowon once again commanded firmly.

“Yes, then please call us if you need anything.”

The two reluctantly got up. Even as they left, they couldn’t stop themselves from glancing back again and again.

🎐⋆｡🍥

Once everyone had left, the surroundings were filled with a silence so profound you could hear breathing. Unaware of what he was so afraid of, the nameless person was still curled into a ball, trembling pitifully. His form seemed to overlap with the small fox he had seen last night.

“Um……”

Hyowon mustered his courage and cautiously approached the head of the bed.

“It’s alright. I don’t know what you’re worried about, but everything will be alright.”

A distance close enough to touch. The little fox he saw last night, the fragile person he met again today. He was still uncertain what was what, but his hesitation was not long.

Hyowon placed his small hand on the gaunt back and patted it lightly. The trembling of the dry body, as if it were in a freezing room in the dead of winter, was transmitted directly through the skin.

In that moment, the face that had been buried in the blanket slowly lifted.

“……Aren’t you suspicious of me, Young Master? How can you tell a wretch like this, whose identity you don’t even know… that it’s alright?”

The child’s distinctively thin voice pierced his ears clearly. At the first kindness he had ever received, his whole body, which had been chilled to the bone, felt as if it were slowly warming up.

The child, much smaller than him, held his gaze with strength in his eyes, making no attempt to look away. His jet-black eyes were so upright that they reflected his own form perfectly, like a spring deep in the mountains.

His lips were parched. Yoonyi barely managed to swallow dryly and squeezed out a voice that wouldn’t come. Along his slender neckline, his prominent Adam’s apple quivered.

“……Because you caught my eye.”

The nape of his neck, peeking out from above his collar, instantly flushed red.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t told you my name yet. I am Hyowon. Kim Hyowon.”

The child, who had been hanging his small, acorn-like head, suddenly spoke his name with shining eyes.

“Th-This lowly one is Yoonyi.”

“Yoonyi? It suits you well.”

Having blurted out his inner thoughts, Hyowon quickly clapped a hand over his mouth and blinked. At this, Yoonyi’s head tilted slightly.

“It’s nothing. Yesterday, I meant to just look for a moment, but it seems I dozed off beside you. Were you very surprised?”

Hyowon smiled brightly and kept scratching the back of his head with his small hand. The one who had been speaking so maturely just a moment ago suddenly showed a childlike side, and his anxious heart gradually found stability.

“Not at all, Young Master. But I don’t know how I can ever repay this kindness……”

“N-No! Kindness, you say.”

As Yoonyi tilted his upper body to bow his head, Hyowon, startled as well, quickly grabbed his fair hand. The distance closed in an instant, and from their joined hands, the child’s unique, hot body temperature coursed through his entire body.

“Y-Young Master……?”

Yoonyi just blinked blankly. He stared at the face as if mesmerized for a long while.

“Huh?”

Yoonyi’s gaze silently flowed downward. At this, Hyowon quietly followed his gaze. He saw his own small hand firmly holding the other’s, which was still mottled red in places from the frostbite.

“……I-I’m sorry. I was so surprised.”

“Not at all, Young Master.”

“Th-That is……. Y-You must be hungry. I’ll go and have them bring some porridge.”

The short legs crossed the threshold in an instant. His movements were so fast, he looked like a squirrel carrying an acorn. As the cold winter air rushed in fiercely through the wide-open door, Yoonyi unknowingly curled his shoulders inward.

Yoonyi stared blankly at the empty space where the child had disappeared without even giving him a chance to reply.

🎐⋆｡🍥

Patter, patter. The light, running steps finally came to a halt at the end of the hallway. Hyowon quietly placed a hand over his chest. His heart was still pounding loudly, thump-thump, as if he had run with all his might.

“Why did I run away?”

A feeling as if all the strength had drained from his body. Hyowon finally let out the breath he had been holding. Yet the question remained unresolved. Judging by his reaction just now, he seemed to have no memory of what happened yesterday. What on earth was Yoonyi’s true identity? The question lingered on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

“He doesn’t seem like a simple person……”

I suppose he shouldn’t be discovered by others. A distinct light shone in the child’s eyes, as black as the night. His chaotic mind became as calm as a lake. As if nothing had happened, Hyowon composed his expression as usual and walked out to the main hall with a dignified air.

“Young Master! Are you alright?”

“……Huh?”

Only then did he see Suni and Manseok, who had been waiting for him below the wooden floor with anxious faces, staring up at him intently.

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Hyowon replied appropriately with a faint smile.

“By the way, Suni, did you make rice porridge in the kitchen today too?”

“……Rice porridge?”

At the sudden question, Suni paused slightly as if asking what she had just heard, then asked again. Lingering curiosity remained thick on her round face.

“He just woke up, so we can’t have him eat rice, can we……”

“Ah, that’s true too! We always make plenty, so there should be enough, but I’ll go and check first.”

Suni, her eyes sparkling, seemed to understand, and quickly grabbed the hem of her skirt and went through the side door. Only then did Hyowon let out a small breath. But it seemed strangely quiet, so he slowly looked around. Makgae was nowhere to be seen, having apparently slipped away somewhere again.

“By the way, where has Makgae gone that he’s not here?”

Where could that fellow, who had left in such a temper earlier, have gone? When he peeked his head out from under the eaves, the sky was overcast, as if it would vomit snow at any moment.