Fake Concubine 66

“Once ​we ​return, ​I ​should teach you ​how ​to ​handle ​dangerous ​beasts in the mountains. ​It ​would also be ​a good idea ​for ​you ​to ​learn ​some ​self-defense.”

“That… I feel ​that ​even ​if I knew ​the tricks, I wouldn’t ​be able ​to put ​them into ​practice. Not ​everyone ​can ​hunt tigers like ​you, My ​Lord. If I had ​such an ability, I ​would have become a ​tiger hunter.”

“You ​certainly ​have a way with jokes. A ​tiger hunter with those ​slender ​arms? ​A ​brush ​suits your hand ​best.”

“And you, ​the ​one who knows ​that, ​are the one trying to ​teach me ​self-defense?”

“Yes, ​you are right. ​Thinking ​about ​it ​again, ​it would ​be ​far more ​rational to keep a close eye on ​you so that ​you don’t do ​anything reckless again.”

“…….”

Was this ​what they ​meant by trying ​to ​get rid of ​a mole only ​to end ​up ​with two? ​Song ​Seol did ​not ​stop there ​and ​continued ​to bestow unnecessary ​kindness.

“Ah, ​I should ​start ​by ​teaching ​you how to ride a horse.”

While he appreciated the desire to help in various ways, Moon Hae-min had no intention of accepting that help. However, he knew that refusing would be futile. Thus, Hae-min chose to simply remain silent.

Song Seol did not speak further. He seemed to think that Moon Hae-min had fallen asleep. Since there was nothing else to do anyway, Hae-min took the opportunity to try and sleep.

As he closed his eyes, a pitch-black darkness rushed in. It had been dark even when his eyes were open, but this felt more stable.

It was a winter night, with tree branches rustling overhead. The wind was cold and the ground was uneven, but it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable.

Perhaps it was thanks to the man who wrapped around him as if to protect him. However, Moon Hae-min deliberately clouded his consciousness, not wanting to think too deeply about it.

1. The Flowing Seasons

At the very first light of dawn, as the day began to break.

Someone shook Moon Hae-min gently. Normally, he would have opened his eyes immediately, but he was currently so exhausted that it was difficult to regain consciousness.

‘I have to wake up…’

Hae-min thought so, yet he remained in a half-asleep haze.

The hand shaking him stopped. Then, a short chuckle tickled his ear, and his body was suddenly lifted.

“Let’s go.”

A powerful bass voice. Hae-min entrusted his body to the owner of that voice. He couldn’t fully relax because something felt precarious, but he was too tired to lift his eyelids. In the end, Moon Hae-min drifted back into a deep sleep.

When he regained consciousness, he was inside his own quarters.

“Young Master, are you awake?”

The maid attending him greeted Hae-min. Blinking, Moon Hae-min tried to push himself up.

“I think it would be better if you lay down a bit longer…”

“It is fine. I have slept enough.”

His voice came out dry and cracked. Hearing this, the maid quickly poured water into a cup. Whether in the past [unauthorized copy]or Read on Read BL Novelsnow, he was the type to make him drink water the moment his unauthorized copycondition seemed slightly off. Finding that amusing for some reason, Hae-min chuckled.

“What is so funny? You were unconscious for two whole days before finally waking up.”

“I wasn’t unconscious, I was sleeping… No, wait. I slept for two days?”

“Yes, to be precise, a day and a half.”

“Ah…”

“My Lord was worried as well.”

The maid added in a subtle tone. Feeling embarrassed by the suggestion, Hae-min strongly denied it.

“That cannot be.”

“I am telling you the truth. The physician even came by to give you acupuncture, Young Master.”

“I even got acupuncture? I did?”

So many things had happened while he was wandering in a dreamless sleep. He felt he should quickly grasp the situation rather than just sitting there. As Hae-min tried to get up, the maid supported him.

“You might feel dizzy if you stand up too quickly. Slowly…”

Just then, a call came from outside the closed door.

“Excuse me. How is the Young Master’s condition?”

It was the steward. He seemed to be asking the maid, but Hae-min answered instead.

“I have just woken up.”

“Ah, then I shall see you for a moment.”

“Very well.”

As permission was granted, the door slid open and the steward spoke.

“My Lord has sent for you.”

“And what did he say?”

“He said that if the Young Master had not yet awakened, I should check on his condition, and if he had, I should have him come to the guest house.”

“Then I shall tidy my clothes and head out immediately.”

“Yes.”

The steward closed the door and withdrew.

With the maid’s help, Hae-min changed his clothes. While he hadn’t grown into a dashing figure, he looked presentable enough not to appear disheveled.

Having finished his preparations, Hae-min opened the door. He saw the steward standing in the front yard. He thought the man had left long ago; had he been waiting for him? As he looked at him in bewilderment, the steward abruptly turned his head.

“Let us go.”

“Ah… right.”

Hae-min followed the steward. Today, the steward’s pace was unusually slow. As he walked slowly in turn, a realization flashed through his mind.

‘Is he being considerate of me?’

Perhaps the man judged that his physical condition was not the same as usual. Although his body ached here and there, it wasn’t to the point where walking was difficult.

“Excuse me.”

“Please speak.”

“My condition is fine, so there is no need to worry.”

“…Yes.”

That short answer contained a hint of relief.

Moon Hae-min grinned. He felt he was finally getting a sense of how to deal with people of the steward’s type.

As soon as he entered the guest house, he saw Song Seol.

He was standing on the wooden veranda in the center of the guest house. Judging by his neat attire, it seemed he had just returned. It wasn’t yet time to leave the office, so it appeared he had finished his work earlier than usual.

“You called for me, My Lord.”

“Yes.”

That was all; there was no mention of the purpose of the summons. While Hae-min stood there awkwardly, Song Seol gave an order to the steward.

A moment later, a servant brought in a table. A quick glance revealed two bowls of rice and two sets of utensils. Sure enough, Song Seol spoke.

“Sit, Moon Hee-yul.”

“Yes.”

Hae-min obediently sat across from Song Seol. To think he would be dining with Song Seol without even time to prepare himself. However, he had to eat regardless, and it was not proper to ignore the invitation of the man who had saved him.

‘Ah, it’s steamed dried yellow croaker.’

Hae-min recognized the dish placed in the center of the table. He had served steamed croaker when they shared a table in the past, and he was doing it again. Song Seol must really like croaker.

Hae-min liked croaker as well. However, he was somewhat clumsy at removing the bones. He had eaten it a few times since coming to Songdo, but perhaps because it wasn’t a food he had been exposed to since childhood, he still had to be careful with his chopsticks.

‘Still, I don’t look like someone who has never eaten a precious fish in his life.’

Thinking this, Moon Hae-min waited for Song Seol to pick up his utensils first.

Soon, Song Seol lifted his chopsticks. The first thing he reached for was the steamed croaker.

As expected, Song Seol definitely liked croaker. While Hae-min thought this inwardly, Song Seol filleted a piece of the fish and pushed it toward him.

“Eat.”

“Pardon? …Yes.”

Without knowing why Song Seol was picking out the fish meat for him, or why he had to eat it, Hae-min reached out with his chopsticks.

Even as he did, Song Seol continued to fillet the croaker. His long, straight fingers moved the chopsticks with great elegance. It felt like watching a piece of art. Without realizing it, Hae-min blankly admired Song Seol’s movements.

Before long, a pile of fish meat had accumulated. Song Seol did not eat a single piece, pushing it all toward Moon Hae-min. At this point, it felt embarrassing to just keep accepting it.

“Um… my condition is not that bad. I can manage the chopsticks.”

“Are you not clumsy at removing fish bones?”

Song Seol blurted out suddenly. Hae-min was bewildered.

“…Pardon?”

It was true that he was clumsy at removing fish bones. However, that Read on Read BL Novelswas a fact that neither the current Song unauthorized copySeol nor the [Read on Read BL Novels]past Song Seol should know. He and Song Seol hadn’t shared a table many times. Especially not with fish as a side dish.

Then how did he know that he was clumsy at removing bones?

‘Could it be written on my face?’

He even had such an absurd thought.

Song Seol frowned slightly. He also seemed to find something puzzling. Of course, that was only for a moment. Song Seol returned to his usual expressionless face.

“Because you have a clumsy nature.”

“I do not.”

“You do.”

Clumsy—this was the first time in his life he had received such a critique, and it felt almost humiliating. However, given his recent actions, he couldn’t refute it. To change the subject, Hae-min spoke obediently.

“I will enjoy the meal.”

As he ate the croaker meat atop the glistening white rice, it couldn’t have tasted better. The more he chewed, the more a clean, savory flavor lingered.

While he was eating deliciously, forgetting various thoughts, Song Seol suddenly asked.

“Moon Hee-yul, do you remember that the maternal relatives were supposed to gather soon?”

“Yes, I remember.”

How could he forget? He had been getting a headache for days, imagining himself sitting there like a misplaced sack of barley at that family gathering.

“It has been decided that they will not gather.”

“Why?”

“Because you have just suffered a great ordeal, and I was also shocked by the event.”

For someone who was shocked, his [stolen content]tone was remarkably calm. Rather, Hae-min, [Read on Read BL Novels]hearing those words, visit our sitewas the one who was startled, his eyes widening.

“Is it truly alright to do that?”

“It is fine. I plan to pay my respects to my aunt simply and alone later.”

“Ah… I see.”

Moon Hae-min nodded blankly.

When he had encountered the tiger, he thought he was surely going to die. But he had survived with his life intact, and thanks to that, the maternal relatives’ gathering was canceled. He wondered if this was what they meant by a blessing in disguise.