DKM 34

“Who on earth has come at this hour that you’re telling me to go out?”

The Gaju waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed.

“I don’t know which mindless brat has come visiting, but just kick them out.”

“T-that is, actually…!”

The servant shouted, his face completely drained of color.

“The Young Mistress is arriving shortly…!”

“What?!”

Before I knew it, the faces of the Gaju and my father had also turned pale. The Young Mistress? If it was the Young Mistress, could it be…? I looked back at Moyong Hwa. Moyong Hwa muttered in a tone of disbelief.

“Mother is coming…?”

Soseo had once told me that Moyong Hwa’s mother was the daughter of an incredibly wealthy family—so much so that even the hot-tempered Gaju had to walk on eggshells around her. Moyong Hwa threw off his blanket and stood up.

“Mother is here. I must change my clothes quickly…”

Moyong Hwa was so distraught that he fumbled several times in the wardrobe before he could finally pull out some clothes. I approached him.

“Please stay calm, Young Master.”

Even though the Gaju and my father had hurriedly rushed out of the room, Moyong Hwa remained curled up, trembling. I gently took his hand.

“I’ll help you.”

“…Okay.”

As I helped Moyong Hwa change and braid his hair, I stole a glance out the window. Good heavens, even the servants’ faces were pale. Every single one of them looked as white as a sheet of paper. I wondered what kind of person the Young Mistress was to make everyone so nervous, but since I was a servant from another house, I figured I should stay quiet. I didn’t want to be the tactless person who doesn’t know when to butt in.

“I’ll stay here.”

“…Come down with me.”

“Pardon?”

“….”

Moyong Hwa’s body was shaking slightly. He looked so pitiful that I had no choice but stolen contentto nod. As I descended Read on Read BL Novelswith Moyong Hwa, I saw a luxurious palanquin decorated with gold and red silk [stolen content]entering the courtyard. Something was fluttering wherever the palanquin passed.

“Flower petals?”

The servants around the palanquin were scattering red petals. I looked back at Moyong Hwa.

“…Mother likes things like this.”

“Really?”

I became increasingly curious about who the Young Mistress of the Moyong Clan was. The Gaju and my father, who had been fidgeting anxiously in front of the door, looked as if they were about to say something to Moyong Hwa for bringing me along, but they quickly shut their mouths when they saw the palanquin door open. A snow-white foot wearing a red silk shoe stepped lightly onto the ground, and fingers adorned with several thin and thick gold rings slightly lifted the hem of her skirt. Following the slow yet elegant movements with my eyes, I finally saw the face of Moyong Hwa’s mother. Dressed in silk clothes as lush as a peony and with red pigment applied around her eyes, the Young Mistress of the Moyong Clan was as noble and splendid as an Empress of the Great Empire.

“My lady, what brings you here at such a late hour?”

“Are you dissatisfied that I have come at this hour?”

“Haha, of course not… You really are something, my lady.”

“You’ve worked hard to get here, my child.”

Wow. Are these the same people who were spewing abuse earlier? I looked at my father and the Gaju with appalled eyes.

“But truly, how did this happen? You said your father-in-law visit our sitewas ill and [unauthorized copy]that you would certainly have to visit our sitenurse him for a while…”

“A merchant who has traded with us for a long time offered my father some medicinal herbs, and the effect was very good. He recovered and got back on his feet in a week, so I hurried here. I couldn’t miss seeing my only son’s achievements.”

The Young Mistress smiled softly with her eyes and cupped Moyong Hwa’s cheek.

“Hwa, you can relax now. Your mother is here.”

“…Yes, Mother.”

“No one harmed you while I was away, did they?”

“….”

Over the Young Mistress’s shoulder, I could see my father and the Gaju glaring fiercely at Moyong Hwa. Oh boy, how pathetic. Truly pathetic. Clicking my tongue inwardly, I glanced at Moyong Hwa. I secretly hoped that Moyong Hwa would tattle on what had happened earlier.

“Nothing of the sort happened. Who would dare harm me?”

But of course, that wouldn’t happen.

“Hwa, your mother is always ready, so please tell me if anything happens.”

“I understand.”

“By the way, who is the child next to you? I don’t believe they are a servant I selected.”

“This is a child serving Paeng Soseo.”

“A servant of the Paeng Clan? Why is such a child here?”

“….”

As Moyong Hwa hesitated, unable to answer, the Young Mistress’s smile deepened. With a benevolent face, she patted Moyong Hwa’s shoulder.

“Shall we go inside first? I rushed here even skipping a meal, so I’m hungry. It’s late, but let’s have dinner, the three of us.”

My father and the Gaju nodded immediately.

“I shall tell the servants to prepare food at once, my lady.”

“Yes, the three of us shall eat cozily.”

“Oh?”

The Young Mistress said, her eyes widening.

“You are not needed.”

“…My lady?”

“Now, let’s go inside. Hwa, and the Paeng Clan’s servant.”

Absurdly, the Young Mistress pulled Moyong Hwa and me inside.

…Huh?

I really seem to have too much luck with food today. I haven’t even digested what I ate earlier, yet another lavish spread is laid out before me.

“Hwa, the duck meat is very delicious.”

“I will eat it.”

“Are you ignoring your mother’s sincerity?”

“…No.”

“Fufu, that’s my son. Now, say ah~.”

Moyong Hwa chewed the duck meat slowly, just as he did when he bit his lip. Strange, they should look like a close mother and son, but they don’t look like that at all. He looks like a subordinate caught by an uncomfortable boss. I prayed that my eyes were deceiving me, but the Young Mistress’s gaze turned toward me.

“So, you are a servant of Paeng Soseo?”

“Yes, I serve him.”

“What is your name?”

“I am Ha Myoha.”

The Young Mistress pondered my name for a moment, then asked Moyong Hwa.

“This is the servant Paeng Soseo cherishes, correct?”

Moyong Hwa nodded. No, just how far have the rumors about me spread? Before I had time to be flustered, the Young Mistress smiled like a fox and held out a piece of duck meat with her chopsticks toward me.

“Now, you too, say ah~.”

“Pardon?”

What is happening right now?

“Young Mistress, I am merely an ordinary servant.”

And a servant of another house, at that. I declined emphatically, waving my hands, but the Young Mistress pushed the meat closer to my lips.

“If you’re a servant, you should do as you’re told. Now, say ah~.”

In the end, I accepted the duck meat. To think such a beautiful woman would feed me. Normally, I would have been truly happy, but this woman is someone that even the Gaju and my father cannot defy. Just who is she that they are so cautious around her? As I pondered seriously while chewing the duck meat, the Young Mistress looked me straight in the eyes and asked.

“It’s delicious, isn’t it?”

Ah, I see why they can’t move. Even I would give my liver and gallbladder to someone if I became family with such a beauty… Just then, Moyong Hwa, who still looked uncomfortable, caught my eye. I quickly snapped back to my senses. The Young Mistress fed me another piece of duck meat and asked.

“What kind of place is the Paeng Clan?”

“It’s a truly wonderful place. I’m so happy to be able to work there.”

“Oh, you can only say that because you haven’t worked at the Moyong Clan.”

“…Mother?”

Anxiety seeped into Moyong Hwa’s voice. The [unauthorized copy]Young Mistress put down her chopsticks stolen contentand habitually stroked Moyong Hwa’s cheek.

“It’s alright, Hwa. Your mother knows everything.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“That is, of course, the reason you brought that child.”

A chilling light momentarily flashed in the Young Mistress’s eyes.

“Our Hwa hates Soseo, doesn’t he? Right?”

“That’s not it, I…”

“That’s why you brought that child, out of a desire to steal something of Soseo’s.”

Moyong Hwa immediately shook his head.

“No, Mother. I didn’t bring him for that reason.”

“Hwa, how many times must I tell you that you can be honest in front of me? Hwa only needs to trust this mother. I will take care of pulling that child away from the Paeng Clan—”

“Please listen to me, Mother!”

For a moment, the room fell silent, and only the sound of heavy breathing could be heard. Moyong Hwa screamed as if vomiting blood.

“Why…! Why on earth will no one just leave me alone! I was simply curious about something…!”

“…Hwa.”

The Young Mistress’s hand began to tremble. She stood up unsteadily and murmured as if her world had collapsed.

“Did you just shout at your mother?”

“….”

“How… how could you really do this to me…”

Instead of answering, Hwa turned his head away from the Young Mistress. Tears quickly welled up in the Young Mistress’s eyes.

“Sob…!”

The Young Mistress left the room in tears. Tsk tsk, I clicked my tongue as I watched her leave.

What is this hopeless, disaster of a family…

Moyong Hwa was the most normal one. No, before that, why is there not a single mentally healthy person here? It only makes things worse when only mentally ill people gather. It’s a miracle that the Baby Tiger grew up with any common sense in a household like this. I wanted to advise Moyong Hwa to escape this house as soon as possible.

I carefully checked Moyong Hwa’s condition. He was curled up again, trembling like a frightened child. I gently placed my hand on his shoulder. His body, which was as hard as a rock, felt as fragile as tofu at this moment.

“…I told you earlier, didn’t I? That I want to be recognized by Soseo.”

When I nodded, Moyong Hwa spoke in a low voice, as if scratching his throat.

“That wasn’t a lie. It’s the truth.”

Instead of answering, I listened to his words.

“I feel like everything will be solved if I’m recognized by that bastard. But he… he, who knows my situation best…”

Moyong Hwa clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

“Even if no one else does, shouldn’t that bastard at least recognize me?”

Moyong Hwa’s voice grew increasingly agitated.

“Knowing full well that I’m like this because of him. He just smiles smugly whenever he sees a person’s [Read on Read BL Novels]face, that [Read on Read BL Novels]two-faced hypocrite! If it were up to me, I’d just…!”

“You can’t, Young Master Moyong Hwa.”

I firmly grabbed Moyong Hwa’s hand. Moyong Hwa’s ragged breathing stopped for a moment. I knelt and looked up at Moyong Hwa with a calm expression. I could see his bloodshot eyes beneath his bangs. I looked straight into those eyes and spoke.

“Your problem probably won’t be solved even if you are recognized by Young Master Soseo.”

“…Why? Why not? Why wouldn’t anything be solved?”

“You’ve just momentarily lost your judgment because you’re too excited, but you actually know it too, Young Master.”

I gripped Moyong Hwa’s hand tighter and hit the nail on the head.

“That the cause of the problem is not Young Master Soseo.”