Beast, Blue Blood - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Oh.”

Upon spotting Eugene, Hisha inadvertently made a sound. The employees, who had turned upon hearing him, noticed Eugene and began to murmur.

“Director.”

“Director.”

Only then did Eugene fully push open the door and step inside.

“Sorry to interrupt your meeting. I have to leave earlier than planned, is there anything quick I can eat?”

A middle-aged female employee spoke up.

“I’ll prepare something for you. Please, follow me.”

Eugene gestured to the employees and followed her.

“Continue with the meeting.”

The employees, seemingly used to such interruptions, naturally resumed the meeting. In the background, Eugene and the female employee’s conversation could be heard as they walked towards the inner kitchen.

“So, you’re skipping breakfast?”

“It seems that way. Sorry about this. Please, share the food with everyone.”

The atmosphere between the employer and the employees seemed surprisingly informal. Hisha was quite astonished. He had expected the mansion to have a cold and rigid atmosphere, like an old noble family’s home, with a clear division between the employers and employees, much like the relationship between nobles and their servants. But in reality, it seemed different, more like a place where people lived together.

‘Maybe I had too many preconceptions.’

Hisha felt slightly embarrassed even though no one was watching him. At that moment, Cox, having finished the briefing, spoke.

“Well, let’s have a lively day at work.”

As people dispersed, Hisha was about to leave when Cox addressed him.

“You’ll start by helping to move the food supplies.”

“Yes.”

“And don’t let me hear that you tripped and spilled the supplies, or I’ll fire you, even if you came here on the director’s recommendation.”

Cox’s tone was somewhat threatening. Hisha, starting to understand the kind yet mischievous nature of this butler, smiled and replied.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Cox shook his head.

“Even a rolling bug has a skill, and you seem to have the knack for making people not dislike you.”

“I hear that often.”

“It’s not a compliment. Now, off you go.”

Cox waved his hand as if shooing a dog. Laughing, Hisha followed the others to the dining room.

Just then, Eugene, having finished a quick meal, emerged from the inner kitchen. Everyone stopped and greeted her.

“Have a good day, Director.”

“Have a good day.”

If it weren’t for the modern attire, it felt like a scene straight out of a period drama. However, the employees did not seem particularly afraid or overly respectful. Eugene responded lightly.

“Have a good day, everyone.”

As she passed by, she smiled at Hisha, who was the last in line.

“You too, Young-soo.”

“Thank you.”

Eugene walked past Hisha, the scent of her perfume lingering in the air. Hisha turned to watch her leave. Though he didn’t know the name of the perfume, it felt luxurious and elegant simply because Eugene wore it.

Lost in thought, he suddenly snapped back to reality. Worried that Cox might have noticed, he quickly looked around. Fortunately, Cox was still inside the kitchen. Hisha hurried to follow the others.

At that moment, Eugene turned around. Nasiri, who had been following her, spoke.

“It’s time to leave.”

“Let’s go.”

Eugene turned and walked ahead. Nasiri, after glancing at Hisha walking in the distance, quickly followed her.

* * *

A truck loaded with food supplies was parked at the back door of the kitchen.

“Hello.”

The truck driver greeted the employees with a smile. Then, noticing Hisha among the greeting employees, he asked.

“Are you new?”

“Yes, I started working yesterday. Nice to meet you.”

Hisha greeted, and the truck driver smiled warmly.

“A handsome young man like you brightens up the place.”

“Can you see the glow around me?”

After a few more light-hearted comments and laughs, everyone started unloading the supplies. Hisha helped but noticed another truck parked a bit further away.

It seemed to be carrying garden-related items, much heavier than the food supplies. Despite this, only two people were around. The young man, who seemed to be the truck driver, was sitting on a rock playing a game on his pad instead of helping.

In other words, the only person moving the heavy bags of soil was a man who seemed to be in his fifties. Yesterday, while passing by, he saw him pruning trees in the garden, so he seemed to be the gardener.

To help, Hisha approached him.

“Excuse me.”

The gardener turned around when he was spoken to.

He had dark brown hair that looked almost black and blue eyes. Judging by his appearance, he was white, but his skin was dark olive from the sun.

But his impression was amazing. He looked like an old mafia boss who had just cut down three people and then washed his hands. His blue eyes were burning, and his shoulders and body were so thick that he looked like a rock on a hillside. Hisha, who had a fair amount of guts, almost hiccuped for a moment.

Hiding his surprise, Hisha grabbed the sandbag and spoke.

“I’ll help you.”

The gardener looked at Hisha silently.

“Never seen your face before.”

He mumbled to himself rather than speaking to Hisha. Hisha smiled.

“Yes, I started working here yesterday.”

“Otherwise, this wouldn’t be happening.”

“Sorry?”

Not understanding the sudden words, Hisha asked, but the gardener turned his head and spoke coldly.

“Just mind your own business.”

Hisha wondered if he had done something wrong, but it felt too rude to just walk away with an ‘Oh, okay.’

“I’ll help you just with this.”

But the gardener, without even looking at Hisha, spoke.

“Don’t meddle unnecessarily.”

His name was Hisha Ivanov. With his cheerful and friendly personality, he had never been spoken to harshly by anyone.

He could have been discouraged by this unprovoked hostility he was experiencing for the first time in his life, but he pulled himself together. Getting into this mansion was easier than he thought, so it felt like he was getting too much for nothing without some difficulty.

“Since I’ve started anyway.”

The gardener frowned, though his face was already impressive, but he said no more. So Hisha persisted in helping until the end.

“I’ll be going now.”

The gardener, who was smoking, neither looked at him nor responded. Feeling awkward, Hisha bowed slightly and turned back. When he returned to the mansion, Cox was already standing at the entrance, watching him approach.

Cox soon scanned Hisha up and down and asked.

“Do you know anything about landscaping?”

Hisha shook his head.

“No. I’ve spent a lot of time in the forest, but I wouldn’t say I know much about it.”

He wondered if he should mention that he often went to the forest; after all, his house was in the woods. But of course, he didn’t say that.

“Really?”

Cox mumbled and gestured towards the garden.

“Keep helping out there.”

“What?”

Hisha was surprised. He thought it would be okay to face some difficulties, but continuously helping that gardener was a bit too much…

“Why? Didn’t you say you’re confident in physical work?”

Cox said, but Hisha remembered the gardener’s gaze that seemed ready to slice him up if he bothered him more. Hisha smiled, hoping for some leniency.

“But it seems like the gardener doesn’t welcome people.”

“Don’t mind what he says. I make the decisions.”

Hisha was puzzled by Cox’s tone. He had never heard Cox speak this way to other employees. Even to Hisha, who had caused trouble on his first day, Cox had only spoken in a teasing manner, without such a chill in his voice.

Before Hisha could grasp the situation, Cox turned and went back into the mansion.

‘What was that about?’

Left standing there, Hisha could only think in bewilderment.

* * *

Hisha peeked through the open greenhouse door. The gardener was crouched down, working with his back turned.

For some reason, the gardener hadn’t joined the other employees for lunch earlier.

“Doesn’t the gardener eat with us?”

Hisha had asked, and one of the young female employees, who was particularly friendly to Hisha, replied.

“Oh, Mr. Pierlu doesn’t eat with us.”

She said it cheerfully, as if it were a given, and didn’t explain further. Since everyone else was eating, Hisha felt it awkward to ask more and just ate his meal.

What was clear was that this gardener named Pierlu wasn’t close to Cox or the other employees.

“Excuse me.”

Hisha said cautiously. Pierlu turned around and, upon seeing Hisha, started to frown, so Hisha quickly spoke up.

“Mr. Cox told me to help you here.”

At those words, Pierlu frowned deeply and looked towards the mansion through the greenhouse glass. During this time, Hisha waited anxiously, but Pierlu continued his work without saying anything.

Feeling out of place, Hisha spoke up again.

“Uh…?”

“Do as you like.”

Pierlu answered curtly and said nothing more. It seemed Cox’s words about making the decisions were true.

Only then did Hisha awkwardly step into the greenhouse.

“What should I…?”

But Pierlu didn’t answer. So Hisha just stood there, feeling like he was wearing a sign around his neck that said ‘awkward.’

Suddenly, Pierlu stood up, causing Hisha to flinch. Pierlu raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘Why is a guy as big as a mountain so jumpy?’ But without saying anything, he walked past Hisha, grabbed a tray from the table, and placed it next to a bag of humus under the table.

“Fill it.”

Pierlu then returned to his original spot. Scratching the back of his head, Hisha approached the table and stared at the unfamiliar items before cautiously asking.

“Uh, how much should I fill it…?”

“Half.”

Pierlu didn’t even turn around.

Hisha sighed inwardly. He had thought it was surprisingly easy to find this job. He knew that life wasn’t going to be smooth sailing, but did challenges have to come this way?