Fake Concubine 6

As ​soon ​as ​Song ​Seol opened the ​original ​text, ​he ​closed ​it. In contrast, he ​looked ​over Moon Hae-min’s ​transcription with great ​care. ​While ​what ​he ​was ​reading were merely ​letters, ​for ​some reason, Moon ​Hae-min felt as if ​he were ​being observed ​while stripped ​naked. It ​was ​likely ​because Song Seol’s ​gaze was ​so intense.

“Is this how ​you have been using ​the writing materials you ​borrowed from ​me?”

“……Yes.”

“For ​what purpose?”

“That, well…”

“It would be best ​to speak the truth.”

“I ​did ​it ​because ​I ​needed money. ……I ​am sorry.”

Moon ​Hae-min ​dropped his head ​low.

In ​truth, if he asked himself ​what he ​had ​done [Read on Read BL Novels]wrong, stolen contentstolen contenthe ​wasn’t ​quite ​sure. ​Working ​because one ​needs ​money is ​not a crime, is it?

However, the eldest ​grandson of a ​prestigious family would ​not earn money by ​transcribing miscellaneous ​books. Because of ​this, ​Song Seol would ​either scold him ​or view ​him ​with suspicion. ​Either ​way, it ​was ​a disaster ​for ​Moon ​Hae-min. At that ​thought, ​Hae-min bit ​the ​inside ​of ​his cheek.

“Come out.”

Having said that, Song Seol left the rental bookstore first. Moon Hae-min gave a slight bow to the owner and followed after him.

Song Seol walked in silence. He did not state their destination, but Moon Hae-min realized they were heading toward the private residence. Following silently behind Song Seol, Hae-min suddenly wondered.

‘What would we look like to others?’

A criminal being taken away by Grand Prince Byeokran? Or a nobleman and his servant?

Whatever it was, they would not look like a Grand Prince and his concubine. They might not even look like companions. Since they were walking five paces apart, they would appear as nothing more than strangers whose paths happened to overlap.

It felt absurd that they lived under one roof despite being so distant. Passing through the main gate, Hae-min habitually swallowed a sigh.

“Where are you going?”

The moment he turned to head [visit our site]toward his own quarters, Song Seol’s voice caught him unauthorized copyby the ankle. Hae-min turned back.

“……I intend to return to my quarters.”

“Follow me.”

Song Seol began to walk.

Since there had been no word the entire way, Hae-min thought he might get off easy, but it seemed he was wrong. With a heavy heart, Moon Hae-min followed him.

Song Seol headed toward the sarangbang. It was the space where the master of the house resided and where distinguished guests were received. It was not a place Moon Hae-min was meant to enter.

“Sit.”

“Yes.”

Even as he sat as told, Hae-min’s eyes shifted awkwardly.

Beside a six-panel folding screen sat a small book chest, and atop it rested a white porcelain gourd-shaped bottle. It looked simple at a glance, but every single item was a masterpiece. They say a room resembles its owner, and this place had an elegant atmosphere that suited Song Seol perfectly.

“Have you studied mathematics?”

“Yes.”

It was an abrupt question. After all, there was no way Moon Hee-yul, the eldest grandson of a prestigious family, would not have studied mathematics. Even a concubine’s son like himself had picked it up by watching from the sidelines.

“Then calculate this.”

Song Seol handed him a problem sheet and an abacus. Moon Hae-min looked down at them, bewildered.

He had no idea why he was being asked to do this. What was more puzzling was that the problems were quite difficult. They seemed hard to solve through mental arithmetic alone.

‘That is why he gave me the abacus.’

Since the stage had been set for him to calculate, he had no choice but to comply. Hae-min solved the problems using the abacus.

Slide, clack. Slide, clack.

In the silence, the only sound was the movement of the abacus beads. Song Seol watched intently as the long, pale fingers manipulated the abacus. Feeling that gaze, Hae-min swallowed hard.

‘I feel… like I’m being tested.’

He had no idea what the test was for. It was frustrating that while he knew the answers to the problems, he couldn’t even guess what was on Song Seol’s mind.

“I have finished.”

After writing the answer to the final problem, Moon Hae-min set down the brush. Song Seol then took the problem sheet. He scanned the answers slowly.

“Moon Hee-yul.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you transcribe miscellaneous books?”

The moment had arrived. It was an expected question, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t nervous. Hae-min clenched his hands and answered.

“It was to earn money.”

“Do you need money?”

“……Yes.”

“For what reason?”

“There are a few things I need to buy.”

“What are they?”

Song Seol pressed him with relentless curiosity. Moon Hae-min had no choice but to confess.

“I… I intend to buy cotton-padded clothes.”

He didn’t know why he felt so embarrassed, considering he wasn’t using the money for anything bad. As he fidgeted with his sleeve, Song Seol spoke.

“The generosity of the Geumcheon Moon clan is quite meager. Did they not provide a single set of cotton clothes when sending their eldest son?”

“……Neither my father nor I knew that Songdo was this cold. Had we known, we would have prepared thick cotton clothes.”

“Even so, would they not have given you travel funds? You could have bought the necessary items with that.”

“My family teaches that frugality is a virtue, so……”

“It seems they failed to teach the virtue of maintaining one’s dignity. Judging by the fact that you transcribed miscellaneous books.”

“…….”

He had nothing more to say. Even to Moon Hae-min, the situation seemed suspicious. Just as he was half-resigned and anxious about how Song Seol would deal with him…

Song Seol suddenly made a proposal.

“I will pay you double.”

“……Pardon?”

“Whatever you received from the rental bookstore, I will pay you double that. If you do the work I assign.”

“What kind of work do you intend to have me do?”

For the first time in his life, he felt hesitant despite being offered more money. When he asked cautiously, Song Seol tapped the problem sheet with his index finger.

“Work like this.”

It seemed he wanted him to do calculations. If so, was the test just now a check of his mathematical ability?

“What say you?”

It was manageable work. Even if it weren’t, it was not in a position for Moon Hae-min to refuse. His answer was essentially predetermined.

“……I will do it.”

From that day on, Song Seol gave Moon Hae-min tasks to complete.

As initially discussed, sometimes it was calculation, and other times it was the task of neatly copying documents. Before long, Moon Hae-min realized that the work was related to state affairs.

‘Is this really alright?’

No matter how trivial the clerical work, he didn’t know if it was permissible for someone without an official rank like himself to be involved in state matters. Since the one assigning the work was Grand Prince Byeokran, it was unlikely to cause a disaster, but he was still worried.

Nevertheless, Hae-min did not stop the work Song Seol assigned. It wasn’t just because he couldn’t disobey Song Seol. In truth, Moon Hae-min enjoyed the work.

‘I thought I would never have any connection to state affairs in my entire life.’

In an indirect way, his dream was coming true. By frequenting Song Seol’s sarangbang and picking up bits of information, he felt his perspective on the world widening.

Furthermore, whenever Song Seol offered a passing compliment, that single word filled him with confidence. Just like right now.

“Well done.”

“……Yes.”

He didn’t know what expression to make at times like this. It was a strange feeling, as if he wanted to smile, yet didn’t. Consequently, Hae-min tightened his lips. This caused his cheeks to puff out like a squirrel’s, though Moon Hae-min was unaware of it.

“Is the work not too difficult?”

“Yes, it is not difficult.”

Although the units of the numbers were large, it was ultimately simple calculation. At this level, it could even be called easy. He only needed to concentrate properly.

“I see.”

Song Seol scanned the documents Hae-min had finished calculating. While he stolen contentwas confident he hadn’t made unauthorized copya mistake, Hae-min was anxious that there might be an error.

Fortunately, there seemed to be no mistakes. Song Seol looked up from the documents and asked.

“Do you know what you have been totaling?”

“I thought they were local specialties from various regions.”

“Correct. Then, do you know how they will be used?”

“I do not know.”

Moon Hae-min answered honestly. After all, there was no way he would know about state affairs. There was no shame in not knowing something he wasn’t expected to know.

“These are exchange goods to be sent to the Geumo Kingdom.”

“Exchange goods?”

“Yes. They are exchanged as a sign of peace.”

Hae-min’s mouth fell open. He knew that since Song Seol had assigned it, it must be important, even if it was simple calculation, but exchange goods [visit our site]between nations? It was incredibly significant. A wave Read on Read BL Novelsof [visit our site]belated worry washed over him—was it alright for him to handle such work?

“Why that expression?”

“Pardon?”

Hae-min touched his face. Even so, he couldn’t tell what expression he was making.

“You look like a child who has secretly eaten from the teacher’s honey jar and is trembling in fear of being scolded.”

“…….”

He didn’t know for sure, but he was certain it wasn’t that. Moon Hae-min tried to put on a neutral face and spoke.

“I was just wondering if it is a task I am worthy of doing.”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Few are better at mathematics than you.”

The voice was calm, as if simply stating a fact. Yet, this was one of the most pleasing compliments Moon Hae-min had ever heard in his life.

“Thank you…….”

After staring at Moon Hae-min’s face as warmth spread across it, Song Seol added as if suddenly remembering something.

“Around this time, the work of loading the exchange goods onto the ships at Yesong Port should be in full swing.”

“Is that so.”

“What do you think?”

As Hae-min just blinked, not understanding the meaning, Song Seol offered more clearly.

“I intend to go to Yesong Port tomorrow. Would you like to come along?”

“Yes.”

Though he answered readily, he couldn’t shake the thought, ‘Is it really alright?’ As if reading his inner thoughts, Song Seol added one more thing.

“It will be a different feeling to see in person what you have only encountered through documents.”

It was a subtle invitation to go to Yesong Port together. It seemed his Read on Read BL Novelsworries [Read on Read BL Novels]had been unfounded. Moon Hae-min replied gladly.

“I would also like to visit Yesong Port.”

“Good.”

There seemed to be a hint of a smile in that short response. Hae-min doubted his ears, but since the conversation had ended, there was no way to confirm it.