Beast, Blue Blood - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

They would have to work together for a while, and they couldn’t stay awkward forever. While gathering soil, Hisha braced himself and spoke up.

“You manage the garden all by yourself? It’s so big…”

“No need to start a conversation.”

Pierlu answered without even looking back. When Hisha clamped up, silence filled the air.

But then, suddenly, Pierlu asked.

“Are you a college student?”

‘Whenever you ignore my questions.’

Even though he felt some resentment, Hisha was happy he finally talked to him and quickly replied.

“No.”

“No?”

Convinced he was just a college student on break, Pierlu frowned and turned around.

“Oh, I’m…”

Just as Hisha was about to explain, Pierlu, seemingly indifferent, turned his gaze away again.

“If you’re doing this to earn some money for entertainment, there are much easier jobs.”

“It’s not for entertainment money.”

“Then all the more reason to quit.”

Although his back said nothing, it somehow seemed tense.

“This isn’t a place you should enter lightly.”

* * *

Hisha took off his gloves and brushed himself off. It was already getting dark outside. As it was his first day, learning various tasks had made him work late.

Then he heard a car approaching the main gate. Soon, it passed by him and stopped in front of the mansion where Cox was waiting. There was only one person Cox would come out to greet personally.

Eugene, wearing a navy blue two-piece suit, got out of the car, which still had its headlights on. She turned around, perhaps having seen Hisha from the car.

Eugene gestured for him to come over. Fighting the urge to run, Hisha walked toward her.

“You’re here?”

Eugene smiled a bit as Hisha approached and asked.

“Did you get through today without any incidents?”

Though strange, Hisha felt his all-day tension melt away. He couldn’t help but smile.

“No incidents today.”

Eugene glanced over Hisha’s dirt-stained clothes and asked.

“So, what kind of work are you doing?”

Before Hisha could answer, Cox replied.

“He’s helping with the garden.”

Eugene looked at Cox.

“The garden.”

It wasn’t a question or suspicion, but an odd tone that was hard to describe. If anything, it was as if she was realizing a garden she didn’t know existed actually did. Hisha couldn’t understand what she meant, but that was the feeling.

“Yes.”

Unlike Eugene, Cox responded plainly and added.

“The old man has aged a lot and seemed to be struggling alone. I couldn’t just watch the garden fall into disarray, so I assigned Young-soo to help.”

“I see.”

That was all Eugene said. Then she smiled at Hisha.

“Then, take some rest.”

Hisha bowed politely. Eugene turned around and entered the lobby, followed by Cox. Hisha felt regretful about parting ways with Eugene after such a brief conversation, but he couldn’t just stand there, so he turned around. Then he overheard Cox speaking quietly to Eugene.

“He’s discreet, so he won’t talk unnecessarily.”

‘Unnecessary talk?’

Puzzled, Hisha looked back. Eugene, who was just starting to ascend the stairs, didn’t respond to Cox but simply said,

“Take a rest, Mr. Cox.”

“Do you need anything?”

“I’m fine.”

Eugene disappeared upstairs, and Cox went his own way. Hisha gazed up at the mansion, which was shining brightly. Cox had probably spoken softly enough, thinking Hisha wouldn’t hear, but he had heard him.

‘So, this is Bluebeard’s mansion, after all.’

He hadn’t heard anything from the gardener… In a mansion with so many rooms, it wouldn’t be surprising if one or two rooms held secrets. There certainly seemed to be something hidden.

* * *

Swoosh… squeak.

The sound of running water from the shower stopped. The automatic door opened, and bare feet stepped into the room, softly lit by a faint lamp. The feet crossed the tiled floor and picked up a robe draped over a Rococo-style chair.

Eugene, now in the robe, poured herself a glass of water from a bottle on the window side table and took a sip. Her gaze then stopped at the place in the garden where a light was still shining. The greenhouse was still lit.

‘Come to think of it, there’s a greenhouse there.’

The greenhouse had always been there, but she felt as if she were noticing it for the first time in years.

She had heard that her father loved the greenhouse. He had set up a spot inside to drink tea, relax, and sometimes even work.

Eugene muttered emotionlessly as she looked at the greenhouse.

“Such a bad taste.”

If it were up to her, she wouldn’t go near that place.

She shook her head slightly and turned away. Behind her, the greenhouse continued to emit a soft light.

* * *

Hisha peeked outside through a gap in the curtains at the dawning light. The mansion was still asleep.

He let the curtain fall back and pressed the aglet on his hood.

“Kate.”

At his call, Kate appeared as a semi-transparent hologram in the form of a rabbit emoji. Hisha raised an eyebrow.

“What’s with that look?”

With two front teeth poking out cutely, Kate stood with one leg crossed over the other.

[It’s a trendy avatar. Don’t you know?]

“No, why are you appearing as a trendy avatar?”

[To hide my identity, it’s better to have a neutral appearance.]

Hisha, finding it irrelevant, waved his hand dismissively. Kate then asked.

[So, what are you doing there?]

“Assistant gardener.”

[Assistant gardener? Why not just gardener? What’s that about?]

“Well…”

Hisha started to explain but then sighed.

“Can you change your appearance? It doesn’t feel like I’m talking to a person. And don’t eat carrots when you don’t actually eat.”

Kate snickered.

[You sure have a lot of demands.]

Finally, the rabbit emoji transformed into the familiar appearance of Kate. She wore a black hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, but this time with a traditional Korean mask.

[Happy now?]

Hisha raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t you think that’s a bit too Korean?”

With her hands in her hoodie pockets, Kate shrugged.

[Do you think simple-minded people would believe I’m Korean?]

“Well, it’s not entirely wrong. You are half Korean.”

[That’s the genius of it, a high-level psychological twist.]

Finding the conversation tiresome, Hisha decided to ignore her.

“Anyway, as for being an assistant gardener…”

He paused, contemplating how to accurately describe his new job.

“Well, I guess you could call me a live wheelbarrow?”

Kate snapped her fingers.

[Oh, that’s so you. You’ve found your calling.]

“Do you want to die?”

[Maybe you do.]

Kate looked around the room and spoke.

[You know if you get caught, you might end up dead? That woman’s nickname is Weathervane. Rumor has it she buries her enemies alive. Some say they’ve seen her digging in the hills with a shovel.]

Hisha thought of Eugene and muttered.

“She doesn’t seem as scary or vicious as the rumors say.”

Kate laughed.

[Is it because she’s pretty? Typical guys.]

“No, I…”

Hisha instinctively started to argue but stopped himself.

Eugene was a classic beauty, despite her mixed heritage. She had a bit of a decadent allure, reminiscent of a high-society lady who secretly ruled the social scene. Languid, elegant like a black panther.

Imagining Eugene in a corset dress, reclining on a velvet sofa, wasn’t difficult. Her appearance was sophisticated, her demeanor aristocratic, and her movements graceful. Hisha had known she was beautiful from photos, but the photos didn’t capture her smile, making her seem cold and imposing. But meeting her in person and seeing her eyes with a hint of a smile felt entirely different.

Just thinking about those eyes made Hisha feel a weight in his stomach.

[Men, always smitten by a pretty face…]

Kate continued.

“It’s not like that.”

Hisha snapped back.

[Not like what…]

Thud.

Suddenly, a noise came from outside.

“Wait a minute.”

Hisha raised a hand to stop Kate and cautiously peeked through the curtains. In the distance, he saw a familiar car leaving. It wasn’t yet time for the staff meeting, so Eugene must be heading to work early.

‘She’s leaving even earlier today.’

Given the wealth of the Fuger-Dulloch family, Eugene could easily live a life of leisure, yet she was remarkably diligent. Recent investigations into her movements revealed that she had very few days off. Hisha recalled what he had learned about her.

* * *

“Name, Eugene Fuger-Dulloch.”

Kate said, standing in front of the wall.

In the photo on the wall, Eugene was dressed in a dark gray two-piece suit, hands in her pockets, looking like she was inspecting something. Middle-aged men in suits occasionally passed by in the background, indicating she was probably in some official setting.

Despite being a woman, her name wasn’t the feminine Eugenia, but Eugene suited her better.

“She’s the heir to the Fuger-Dulloch family, which includes three sons and three daughters, both legitimate and illegitimate.”

Hisha wasn’t surprised by the numerous affairs of Heinrich Fuger-Dulloch, Eugene’s father, but Kate’s next statement did surprise him.

“Her maternal family is the Lian family.”

“The Lian family? Do you mean that top Chinese conglomerate? The one even the President stands up to greet?”

Surprised, Hisha looked back at Kate, who shrugged.

“Eugene’s mother was greatly favored by her grandfather Lian Qing, the then-head of the Lian family, bringing a massive fortune. Her mother’s nickname was ‘Princess Shunjing’ due to her immense wealth.”

This explained why Heinrich never divorced his wife despite his numerous affairs, and why Eugene, the third child in line, became the heir. She was the only legitimate child.

Kate pointed to Eugene’s photo.

“But she’s not ordinary herself. Graduated from Windsor School, holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from MIT, a Master’s and PhD in Biology from Stanford. She was the Chief Researcher at ITT Biotechnology Research Institute, a Chair Professor at Johns Hopkins, and is now the Executive Director of Business Development Strategy at Knox Genomics International.”

Her profile seemed fit for someone in their late forties at least. Hisha looked at Eugene’s photo anew, impressed by her commanding presence.

Kate continued.

“At first, she was considered a parachute hire, but her performance as Director of Strategy was so outstanding that there was no internal opposition when she was promoted to Executive Director. The gene therapy for acquired genetic diseases she planned skyrocketed Knox Genomics’ stock price. And she turns thirty-five this year.”

Hisha whistled.

“Only thirty-five? That’s impressive.”

Kate snapped her fingers multiple times, drawing attention.

“You need to get information about the virus from this impressive woman. Stay focused.”