DKM 33

After spending a long time carefully drying Moyong Hwa’s hair, I began to brush it. Just as I finished the bangs and moved to the back, Moyong Hwa suddenly asked.

“Doesn’t it get in the way?”

“What does?”

Instead of answering, Moyong Hwa lightly brushed his bangs aside.

“I am curious why you grew them out.”

“I like it because it helps me avoid eye contact with others.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

I nodded and continued brushing.

“Do other people nag you a lot about your bangs?”

“Yes.”

“But since you just can’t bring yourself to cut them short, you’re growing them out.”

Moyong Hwa nodded once more. I spoke in a voice filled with genuine admiration.

“That’s impressive.”

“What is?”

“Honestly, it feels a bit wrong to say this in front of someone from the Moyong Clan… but the people here have quite the personalities. I feel like if they catch you on one thing, they’ll nag you until you’re driven mad.”

“That’s what you find impressive?”

“What do you mean ‘that’? It’s incredibly impressive. Do you know how hard it is to maintain your own style—or rather, your hairstyle—in front of people who interfere so much? I usually don’t care what others think, but I’ve cut my hair short a few times because I was worried I’d look strange.”

“…Even though I just did it because I hate making eye contact with people?”

“That’s exactly why it’s impressive. Ah, looking at it this way, it seems Moyong Hwa isn’t just someone who gets pushed around by others.”

“….”

Moyong Hwa thought for a moment, then tilted his head slightly.

“Is that so?”

“Of course. You should try challenging yourself with other things next time.”

“Like what?”

“Hmm… maybe refusing to do an errand when someone asks, saying you’re too busy?”

“There are servants everywhere; there’s no reason for anyone to ask me to run an errand.”

Ah, he laughed again. Perhaps he liked my nonsense, as a pleasant chuckle escaped him. He looked even cuter laughing now that he was all fluffy and clean. I finished brushing and poured him some tea.

“Shall I reheat it for you?”

“No, I like it lukewarm. It’s hard to drink if it’s too hot.”

H-he even has a cat’s tongue…?! To suppress my excitement, I pinched my thigh hard under the table. An unexpected moe element…! My goodness, few people’s impressions change as drastically as Moyong Hwa’s. First, he was a prickly cat, then a large dog abandoned on a rainy day, and now he’s like a Baby Tiger—a bit afraid of people but with a temper. But [stolen content]do tigers struggle with hot food too? They’re both felines, so maybe [stolen content]it’s similar. Just as the clouds of my delusion were billowing, Moyong Hwa took a sip of tea and spoke with satisfaction.

“It’s cooled down just right.”

In the end, the last shred of reason holding onto my normal thinking completely vanished. Who cares. Our Baby Tiger likes it lukewarm. From now on, every time I eat with Moyong Hwa, I’ll use a fan to cool every single dish for him.

“Looking at your face suddenly makes me feel disgusted. What are you thinking about?”

“Eh, I wasn’t thinking about anything. Young Master, would you like another cup of tea?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Moyong Hwa pointed to the seat opposite him.

“You sit too.”

“May I?”

I sat across from Moyong Hwa and poured a cup of tea for myself. The old me would never have predicted this. Not only had I become close with Moyong Hwa, but we were now sitting face-to-face drinking tea. Life truly is unpredictable.

“…About that time.”

“Yes?”

Since he said he felt comfortable around me, it should be okay to look at him, right? I slowly raised my head and looked at Moyong Hwa. He struggled visibly to part his lips.

“The time I tried to drag you away by force…”

Is he trying to apologize for what happened five years ago? Moyong Hwa timidly shook his head.

“No, forget it.”

Right, his pride probably won’t allow an apology just yet. But in my mind, Moyong Hwa was already just a Baby Tiger. I will extract the most timid and prickly apology in the world from him.

“Just say you’re sorry now.”

If you did something wrong, you should naturally apologize. I looked straight at Moyong Hwa and spoke.

“My arm really hurt back then. They said if you had used more strength, it could have broken.”

“….”

“I haven’t learned any martial arts, so I have no strength. You were really in the wrong back then, Young Master Moyong Hwa.”

“But you, back then…!”

“Please don’t blame me. I think I’d be really sad if you did.”

Moyong Hwa bit his lip slightly.

“I know that you’ve had a hard time, both then and now. You must have been sensitive as the heir who is compared to Young Master Soseo at every turn. But that isn’t a reason to act recklessly. If everyone in the world acted out whenever they felt bad, the world would have ended long ago.”

So many people in this world live their lives trying not to take their anger out on others, no matter how unpleasant their circumstances… I stared intently at Moyong Hwa. Finally, he opened his mouth.

“S-so…”

Yes! You can do it! I clenched my fists and gave him an encouraging look.

“Damn it, I can’t do this.”

Moyong Hwa covered his face with his palm and let out stolen contenta deep sigh. stolen contentAs expected, hearing an apology today seems impossible. Just as I was half-resigning myself…

“Still, you’re right. It’s true that I acted wrongly back then as a member of the orthodox faction and one of the five great families.”

Moyong Hwa lowered his head.

“Sorry.”

Oh my goodness! My face lit up with joy, and I quickly spoke.

“It’s okay. I was stubborn back then too.”

To think Moyong Hwa has made such tremendous progress. Myoryeong once told me he was worried because I don’t bend my stubbornness even if a sword is at my throat. I should try to act more flexibly from now on. I must avoid unnecessary conflict as much as possible. Before I knew it, I set down my empty cup.

“Shall we head to bed now?”

Moyong Hwa seemed tired as well and obediently lay down on the bed.

“I’ll cover you with the blanket.”

“…I have hands.”

“Aw, let me do it.”

I carefully tucked the blanket around Moyong Hwa and blew out the candle. As I tried to move away from the bed, my sleeve was tugged. I looked at Moyong Hwa with curious eyes. He asked while still holding onto my sleeve.

“When are you going back?”

“I should go now.”

“…To Soseo?”

I gauged Moyong Hwa’s reaction and nodded. I only nodded because I didn’t want him to get angry like last time, but suddenly I felt a surge of fear. Is it okay for me to leave like this? Just as I was feeling nervous, Moyong Hwa released his grip.

“…Right, no matter what anyone says, you are Soseo’s servant.”

Our Moyong Hwa has changed. I almost covered my mouth again in emotion. Moyong Hwa turned his back to me and lay down.

“Go on.”

It’s a bit pitiful, but it can’t be helped. I reached stolen contentfor the door. But before I could open it, the door swung open violently. Huh? Opening the door this boldly means… I swallowed hard and [Read on Read BL Novels][Read on Read BL Novels]slowly raised my head. Moyong Hwa’s father was glaring at me fiercely.

“I came because I heard some rat was daring to wander around here with muddy paws, and it turns out…”

“…Ah, hello?”

“So it was you? You should be sticking to Paeng Soseo; why is someone like you here?”

“Father!”

The father, who looked ready to grab me by the hair, paused. Moyong Hwa sat up and spoke politely.

“…I brought him here.”

“You brought him?”

The father’s eyebrow twitched.

“Why did you bring him?”

Moyong Hwa gripped the blanket tightly and spoke.

“I heard he was a good talker… so I was curious.”

“You call that a reason! You hate even speaking with your own father, yet you’re chatting with another house’s servant!”

“…But.”

“Even so, because you are my son, I tried my best to understand and protect you…! How dare you lie to me? I can’t tolerate this any longer!”

…I don’t think he tolerated that much? Where did he get a lie that even I, who just met him, could see through? It was so absurd I almost let out a hollow laugh.

“Just how much do you intend to disappoint me! You might have to fight that Paeng Soseo tomorrow, yet you’re wasting time on this nonsense? Instead of dragging in another family’s servant, you should have swung your sword one more time!”

“….”

O-oh no. Our Moyong Hwa is about to lose his spirit again. I worked so hard to lift it…! But if I intervene recklessly here, it’ll just be like pouring oil on the father’s burning anger. Anyone, please, a savior to resolve this situation…!

“Why is it so noisy out here! Has Moyong Hwa brought shame upon the family again?”

“….”

I called for a savior, not someone who would make the situation worse. Can I get a refund? With empty pupils, I blankly stared at the grandfather, who looked dignified enough to be royalty from any country. He was undoubtedly the Gaju of the Moyong Clan, the grandfather of Soseo and Moyong Hwa.

“It is nothing, Father. I will handle him.”

“What?! You still haven’t cut your hair?!”

…This is truly a situation designed to drive a person crazy. Moyong Hwa lowered his head and curled his body.

“I told you I would overlook it today, but there wouldn’t be a second time! Why is your hair still in that state! Bring me a sword this instant! I shall cut it myself…! Hm? And who are you?”

The grandfather finally noticed me kneeling on the floor. Thank goodness! Let’s try to divert the attention toward me!

“Who is that boy? I haven’t seen him before; is he a new servant?”

“How could that be, Father? He is Paeng Soseo’s servant.”

“What? Paeng Soseo’s?”

I immediately prostrated myself and bowed.

“I am Ha Myoha, a servant working for the Paeng Clan.”

“Ah, so you are the servant Soseo treasures. Stand up.”

I stood up as told. The grandfather studied my face and then tossed out a comment.

“Looking at you, you look exactly like a rat whose cheeks are puffed out after stealing from someone else’s granary.”

“Right? I thought so too.”

“….”

That’s strange. A hamster is technically a rodent, so he’s not wrong, but why do I feel bad?

“But why are you here? Shouldn’t you be by Soseo’s side, not Hwa’s?”

“Well, that is…”

“Did Soseo order this? To look after Hwa?”

Absolutely not. But the grandfather reached a conclusion on his own without even listening to my answer.

“That boy has a truly great vessel. No matter how I think about it, he should have been born into the Moyong Clan.”

“…Father, please stop. Regardless, that boy is the one who will inherit the Paeng Clan.”

“You haven’t done a single thing right, so shut your mouth. Do you not know the saying ‘like father, like son’? It is also your responsibility that Hwa became like this.”

Stop, please stop. Stop stabbing our Baby Tiger in the heart, you bad people. Please, anyone, save our Baby Tiger. Just as I was stamping my feet in helplessness…

“Gaju, excuse me for interrupting your conversation.”

“What is it?”

“You must go outside immediately…!”

A true savior to rescue Moyong Hwa had finally appeared.