Chapter 9

​A mere servant throwing foul water at the son of the patriarch?

​Hwi watched, curious to see how Yoo-ha would react. To his disappointment, Yoo-ha simply brushed the droplets of filth from his sleeve without a word. Then, he quietly lifted his head and fixed his gaze on something in the distance.

​Who is he looking at? Ah… the half-brother. That bastard must have ordered this.

​Following Yoo-ha’s cold, hollow gaze, Hwi glanced briefly at the brother before quickly shifting his attention back to Yoo-ha.

​Seong Yoo-ha. The man who possessed an appearance striking enough to make any passerby turn their head, yet his expressions were so guarded, so ambiguous, that they alone naturally piqued the curiosity of anyone who watched him. He appeared apathetic, but beneath that facade lurked an immense, roiling emotion. Hwi had wondered what it was; was it hatred?

​Thoroughly intrigued, Hwi stared intently at Yoo-ha’s face. A moment ago, a flash of pure rage had flickered across his otherwise placid expression. The shadow of that anger had yet to fully fade from his eyes.

​”Oops, my bad… How was I supposed to know you’d be walking by right then? Are you all right, Young Master?” the servant asked. He was a man with a bushy beard and an unsightly wart on his forehead.

​”It’s fine,” Yoo-ha replied.

​”Some water splashed on your fine clothes… whatever shall we do?”

​Is that it? Hwi thought. He hurls slop at his master and offers nothing but a mock inquiry instead of a proper apology? Are the people of Ansi insane? Or is everyone in this Seong household out of their minds?

​Having no particular desire to intervene, Hwi remained silent, playing the observer.

​Surely he will say something. He’ll utter at least one word of rebuke. No—he’ll issue a punishment.

​Hwi tore his gaze away from the servant—who was busy seeking approval from the half-brother in the distance rather than looking at the man he had doused—and studied Yoo-ha. The roots of the hatred surfacing in those calm eyes seemed to run deep.

​This was the same Seong Yoo-ha who protected his servants and bestowed favors for no reason. Hwi wondered how that hatred, that hidden fire, would show.

​It might look pathetic, but if there’s nothing else you can do, at least curse him. If not that, then give an order. Command me to drag that insolent fool over here and force him to his knees.

​Seong Yoo-ha, my “Master.” Just say the word, and I will, as a special favor to you…

​”Never mind,” Yoo-ha said.

​”Yes, yes, of course~ If you say so.”

​Hwi nearly let out a disbelieving scoff at the exchange.

​I have never heard of, let alone imagined, such a sight. Is it because this is the Kingdom of Ansi? Or because this is a Maru family? If it is neither, is the standing of Seong Yoo-ha—who stands there stiffly, suppressing his hatred with all his might—truly this low?

​It gnaws at my nerves. How irritating.

​Clicking his tongue, Hwi stared intently at the servant’s face, memorizing the bushy beard and the ugly wart on his forehead. He burned the image into his mind as if marking a target.

​”Let’s go.”

​It was Yoo-ha’s voice that finally broke Hwi’s calm, chilling stare.

​Realizing the words were meant for him, Hwi followed Yoo-ha, who was already a fair distance ahead. Yoo-ha remained entirely silent as they walked, maintaining a rigid, upright posture and a stiff expression that betrayed nothing of his inner thoughts.

​By the time they reached the market entrance, the air was thick with the echoes of a bustling crowd. Hwi had assumed they were here merely to browse, but Yoo-ha walked with a clear destination in mind, ignoring the merchants who attempted to lure him toward their stalls. He stepped into a modest dumpling shop, took a seat, and spoke kindly.

​”Hwi, come sit here.”

​Hwi scanned the crowded, dingy interior with visible dissatisfaction before taking the seat across from Yoo-ha.

​”Two orders of meat dumplings, please.”

​”Yes, sir! Coming right up!”

​Hwi looked at Yoo-ha with a puzzled expression. Had he not just eaten before leaving the annex?

​Just as Hwi was beginning to think Yoo-ha might have a rather large appetite for such a slender frame, Yoo-ha’s neat hands came into view. He gently pushed the steaming dumplings that had just been served toward Hwi’s side of the table.

​”You’re hungry, aren’t you? This shop is quite famous.”

​”You mean… these are for me?”

​”Yes. You haven’t been able to eat a thing since yesterday, have you?”

​It was true. However, that wasn’t new to him; the same could be said for Yong-rae. While the servants in the main house seemed to be well-fed, the people of the annex were strangely excluded from the kitchen’s bounty. As for the nanny’s food, Yong-rae always managed to bring it from somewhere, but Hwi had never actually seen the man eat a meal himself.

​As Hwi stared blankly at the steaming dumplings and then back at Yoo-ha, the latter mistook his suspicious gaze for embarrassment.

​”Unlike the main house, the annex is only allotted one meal a day,” Yoo-ha explained. “Furthermore, we aren’t allowed to buy food outside to bring back into the estate. However, it doesn’t matter if you eat your fill here before we go back. Go ahead.”

​”……”

​”Don’t worry. Yong-rae also takes care of a meal here in the market whenever he runs errands or has a spare moment.”

​Hwi didn’t ask why they were forced to scavenge for meals outside, or why the annex was so blatantly discriminated against. He knew the answer without asking. He picked up a dumpling and took a generous bite. The rich meat and savory juices mingled with the vegetables; it was decent enough.

​”Is it good?”

​”Not bad.”

​”It’s all for you, so take your time.”

​”Why didn’t you get angry?” Hwi asked suddenly.

​”Hm?”

​”Earlier. With the dirty water.”

​Yoo-ha realized Hwi was referring to the incident with the servant and offered a bitter smile. Of course, he could have caused a scene. Even if his position in the family was close to none, he was still the patriarch’s son. But he knew all too well that such a confrontation would not end in his favor. In the worst-case scenario, it was highly likely that Yong-rae, the nanny, or even Hwi would be the one to suffer the consequences.