Beast, Blue Blood - Chapter 80

Chapter 80

“Ah-eun, is that right?”

In affirmation, Ah-eun gave a slight nod. Si-woo, puzzled, asked.

“What brings you to such a place?”

“I came to gather herbs.”

At these words, Si-woo saw the bag of herbs slung over her shoulder and realized she wasn’t lying. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder why a servant would be collecting herbs.

Then it dawned on him, vaguely, that this servant, who was originally from Hwanghaedo in the northwest—an area with little in the way of proper medical practitioners—might have come from such a barren land. He wondered if it was a habit from her hometown, but before he could pursue that thought, Ah-eun hesitantly asked.

“Is that child… a servant from the Changwon-gun household?”

Her hearing had improved, and her memory was sharp enough that she rarely forgot something she had seen once. She remembered the pretty Gusa (a servant given to the royal family and their loyal subjects) she had seen when she went on an errand to the Changwon-gun household before.

At Ah-eun’s question, Si-woo let out a small sigh and spoke.

“Could you keep this a secret?”

He didn’t seem embarrassed or troubled about being discovered; rather, it looked as if he had expected to be found out eventually.

“So, the reason you visit the Changwon-gun household so often is…”

She had thought that the notorious Changwon-gun would be the last person with whom he would associate, but it seemed there was another reason.

Ah-eun spoke with concern.

“Although it’s not my place to say… even if the King has granted a favor, a servant is still a servant.”

Ah-eun, being a servant herself, understood this better than anyone. Although she had the option to escape at any time, her choice to live among people was a bit different. Still, she knew better than anyone what position servants held in Joseon.

“Ah-eun.”

However, Si-woo called her softly but firmly.

“You don’t think I would be unaware of that, do you?”

Ah-eun closed her mouth and slightly bowed her head.

“I was overstepping my bounds.”

Even though she claimed to understand the position of a servant better than anyone, it seemed she hadn’t fully grasped it. It was as if her own status occasionally made her forget the harsh reality.

“I understand what you’re worried about.”

Si-woo said, his tone softened, though still serious.

“I’m pondering how to explain this to my parents properly.”

Despite the vast difference in their social statuses, with only their faces familiar to each other, Si-woo spoke candidly as if to a close friend. It seemed he simply wanted to share the heavy thoughts he had been carrying with someone, regardless of who that person might be.

Ah-eun was again surprised that he took the issue of servants seriously, not just as a trivial matter.

When she thought about it, her young master was someone who would never view anyone—be they a servant or otherwise—as merely a plaything.

If only that were the case.

Then perhaps he could have shaken off the looming tragedy and lived a good life instead.

“I plan to tell my parents at an appropriate time.”

The sunlight filtering through the canopy cast a pale, glowing light on his white face, making it appear even more radiant. Even if he didn’t look like that, it was undeniable that a man deeply in love, regardless of his status, would still be beautiful. Yet Ah-eun couldn’t help but say.

“There may never be an appropriate time.”

Her tone was oddly prophetic as if she could see everything in advance. Si-woo looked at her with renewed interest. Then Ah-eun asked.

“I’m planning to go home directly. What will you do, Young Master?”

“Go ahead first. I’ll follow slowly.”

“Then I’ll go on ahead. Please take care.”

Ah-eun gave a small bow and passed by Si-woo. Watching her retreating figure, Si-woo thought.

‘What a peculiar person.’

Apart from her unusually gentle appearance, there was nothing particularly striking about her, and he barely remembered her face. Yet, after talking with her, he felt there was an indescribable aura about her.

* * *

Indeed, there was no such thing as an appropriate time.

Bang!

Someone slammed a desk forcefully. Ah-eun, startled, looked toward the main house, where the kitchen servants were gazing at her in confusion.

“What’s going on?”

As expected, they seemed to have heard no noise. At that moment, a strange sound echoed from the main house of the Chu family.

“You worthless fool!”

It was the enraged voice of Si-woo’s father, Tae-eul.

“You dare to…”

Followed by a loud crash as something heavy was thrown and shattered.

Ah-eun rushed out of the kitchen, where the bewildered servants were gathered, staring at the commotion in the main house.

Bang!

Soon, Tae-eul burst out of the door and, seeing the gathered servants, shouted.

“What are you all staring at?”

The servants scattered in panic.

Although Tae-eul was a strict and principled man, he was usually quite lenient with those working in the house. However, at this moment, his rage seemed so intense that even an ancestor could not have stopped him. He was that furious.

As Tae-eul crossed the hallway with a furious stride, a tense silence fell over the area.

“Is he… hurt?”

Ah-eun murmured, understanding that there was blood despite it not being too severe.

Duk-man, Si-woo’s personal servant, who had been anxiously waiting, rushed over.

Through the open door, Ah-eun glimpsed Si-woo sitting upright with considerable blood flowing from his forehead. The droplets stained the shoulder of his jade-green robe. It appeared he had been struck by an inkstone that Tae-eul had thrown.

Next to Tae-eul’s vacated spot sat the lady of the house, with her arms resting on her knees, her expression somber. Despite being someone who would normally rush out at the sight of her son in such a state, she sat there with a grave demeanor while her son was bleeding. This only led others to exchange glances, wondering if something serious had occurred.

Eventually, it seemed the lady could no longer just watch Si-woo bleeding, so she called for Duk-man.

“Duk-man.”

“Yes, I’m coming.”

Duk-man, who had already prepared cloths and a washbasin, hurried up to the main hall.

“Close the door.”

At the lady’s command, Duk-man closed the door and entered. Only then did people lower their voices and disperse, while still whispering amongst themselves. Among them, Ah-eun sighed. She could guess what had happened. The betrayal would have been all the more painful given how eagerly awaited the son was.

* * *

Ah-eun opened the door and placed the food-laden tray on the table. Si-woo, sitting in front of the table, saw her enter but said nothing.

Tae-eul had restricted Si-woo from leaving his room, probably to prevent him from meeting anyone from outside.

As Ah-eun set the side dishes on the table, she spoke quietly.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I know.”

Si-woo replied calmly.

“Who said it?”

Ah-eun later learned that it was Si-woo’s servant, Duk-man, who had been scared of the severe authority of the elders and had disclosed it. Duk-man had revealed who Si-woo had been seeing lately and their social status.

Ah-eun hesitated before asking.

“Young Master, is there… anything I can do to help?”

Si-woo, caught off guard by the unexpected offer, didn’t hide his surprise. However, he responded.

“Thank you. I appreciate you saying that.”

“I’m not sure if I can be of much help…”

Si-woo gave a faint smile.

“You already have.”

Ah-eun bowed her head, feeling a flush of embarrassment at her overstepping. Si-woo took a deep breath and added.

“It’s strange, but hearing someone say that is genuinely comforting.”

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t burdened by loving a servant instead of a free person. In Joseon, people of different social statuses were considered as different as different species, and even if he married a freed servant, it would still be a social obstacle for him.

While she couldn’t be sure if their story would have a happy ending, Ah-eun wanted to help in any way she could.

Ah-eun spoke.

“The person who brought me water when I went on an errand to the Changwon-gun household was her.”

A smile appeared on Si-woo’s lips as he recalled the person.

“She is a kind-hearted person.”

Even though Ah-eun, as a servant, didn’t feel any fluttering emotions towards Si-woo, she could understand why women might lose their composure in his presence. With such a refined and kind person, it would be hard not to fall in love.

The warm Gusa who had brought her water and Si-woo seemed alike. She thought that if Haji had grown up safely, she might have become a beautiful young lady like Eop-ji and met a man like Si-woo to fall in love with. She realized she was projecting Haji onto Eop-ji, but she still wished for Eop-ji’s happiness, even in this way.

After losing Haji, it had been a long time since she felt a warm sensation in her chest.

At that moment, a servant standing at the door called.

“Ah-eun, come out now.”

Ah-eun looked at the servant and then back at Si-woo.

“I’ll go now.”

As she began to stand up, Si-woo said. 

“Please convey a message.”

Knowing he wanted her to relay it to Eop-ji, Ah-eun nodded.

“What should I tell her?”

* * *

As Ah-eun was about to leave through the main gate, she felt someone watching her. When she turned around, the presence she sensed quickly disappeared, seemingly startled, from around the corner.

She could have pursued them and caught them if she had chosen to. However, it didn’t seem dangerous, and since there were several people keeping watch over the estate, Ah-eun decided to ignore it and continue on her way.

It didn’t take long to get from Bukchon to the west side of the city.

As she approached the Changwon-gun house, she noticed that there was an unusual commotion in front of the house. A considerable number of people had gathered, and even the homeowner, Changwon-gun, was outside.