Chapter 15. Meeting (1)
When Shihoon ran to Eunha’s side, he was dumbfounded at how cheerfully she greeted him.
Not only had he searched the entire town to find Eunha, who had mysteriously disappeared, but he had even searched the mountains where tiger traps had been set up.
— Perhaps a beast devoured her… Either some bandits captured her… Or perhaps she slipped and drowned in the river.
He hadn’t been able to sleep well these days due to all sorts of unpleasant worries, so now that he had found her, he couldn’t believe that she was so well….
Shihoon was relieved that she was safe, but he couldn’t hide his annoyance.
“Geez, do you know how much pressure I put on the bookshop owner to find you?! If you’re going somewhere, you have to say it! If you’re working, if you’re fine, that’s it! Is it so hard to send a letter?”
Eunha, who was grabbed by Shihoon’s arm, smiled awkwardly and scratched her head.
“I’m sorry, Young Master. It’s all been really chaotic.”
“I know. I heard what happened in Buyeong that day.”
“Is that so? Anyway, I’m sorry for worrying you.”
In front of Eunha, who was biting her lip slightly in embarrassment, Shihoon was no longer able to raise his voice. He wanted to hug her tightly and comfort her for the bad time she had. But he felt it wasn’t right, so he simply kept his grip on her arm.
“So, are you done with work? You don’t have to come back here anymore?”
“No. I have permission to go out for a while. I have to be back in three days.”
“Really? What job is that?!”
“I work as a reader. I read Western Language books to the lord, since he’s blind.”
Shihoon’s hand trembled as he grabbed her arm.
He knew it was this place. It was the same place his father had said he would keep an eye on.
The private residence of Seo Jihak, the former crown prince. Shihoon’s eyes darkened at the fact that Eunha was working as a reader in such a dangerous place.
“By the way, Young Master. Do you have any news about my sister? Actually… I can’t go to Buyeong. I miss my sister, but if I set foot in Buyeong, there will be trouble again.”
Shihoon stroked Eunha’s head, who became sad, and nodded slightly,
“Let’s go to my house first. I received a message from Yongi. She asked me if I saw you to tell you that she is fine. So stay at my place for these three days. I’ll tell Yongi to come to my house.”
“Are you sure? Gosh, thank you! Thank you so much, Young Master!”
Eunha jumped up and hugged Shihoon around his waist. Ever since she was little she developed the habit of hugging him affectionately. It didn’t even cross her mind that it wasn’t appropriate.
As he looked at Eunha against his chest, Shihoon’s cheeks flushed in an instant and he pressed his lips together. Although he had promised that he would keep his feelings for her only within himself, his heartbeat was getting stronger and stronger, as if he had a heart disease, which slowly eclipsed his determination.
Shihoon suddenly raised his head and spoke as he covered Eunha’s eyes on him.
“Well, let’s go. You haven’t eaten yet, right? I got some good meat yesterday, so let’s steam it.”
At those words, Eunha pushed Shihoon’s bandaged hand away and seemed delighted with the excited expression on his face.
“Young Master, you’re the best. … I’ve eaten a lot of food at other people’s houses… But your homemade food is the best. Hehehe.”
“Tsk, tsk. Don’t speak that way. When will you speak in a way that suits your delicate mouth?”
“I’ll be like this forever, forever.”
That said, Eunha walked briskly with her luggage on her shoulder and disappeared in front of the mansion with Shihoon.
Seo Jihak’s eyes narrowed gently as he watched the scene, as if he had just witnessed a pleasant moment, but Yuljae realized at once that his lord was terribly upset.
“My Lord, if you order me to bring him…”
“No need. I’m just curious… Who is he?”
“I’ll find out.”
Jihak nodded and turned toward the front door. His servants opened it and bowed their heads. He walked past them and headed straight to his bedroom.
“It seems that the rumor has spread very well. Senior officials from the capital have been coming here one by one.”
“The Minister of Defense was the first to arrive 15 days ago. I did some research and found out that there is a separate building in Buyeong for the Minister of Defense.”
“In Buyeong?”
“Yes. I think it’s because the courtesan house is a place where it wouldn’t be unusual for men to be in groups. There are rumors that a meeting will be held there.”
Jihak nodded slowly, looked at himself in the hand mirror, and touched the wound that had already healed quite a bit.
The day he was wounded, he could not contain his anger and killed them all. He only left one man alive. He didn’t expect to find the girl in his bathhouse while he was covered in blood.
Her surprised face looked too cute. She was trembling like a deer caught in a trap, so he was about to grab her by the neck and push her into the bathtub to satisfy his lust.
He wanted to shove it into her little mouth, choking her and making her gag. He wanted to gently caress her tight lips, then tear off her lower garment and madly thrust his c*ck into her tight, slimy flesh.
He wanted her to cry because she couldn’t breathe, to cry from pain. He wanted her bright eyes to distort, and for her to implore him to stop…
When he remembered her voice, heat pooled in his lower body and boiled again. Jihak smiled and slowly wiped the corners of his mouth.
If he had satisfied his lust, he could have killed that girl that day. No, he certainly would have killed her.
‘How is it possible that she always trembles with fear in front of me, but in front of others she smiles and even her cheeks blush beautifully?’
An inexplicable displeasure came over Jihak. He silently closed his eyes and listened to Yuljae’s report, then opened the window and looked at the red camellias that had bloomed out of season.
“Then, we should also go to Buyeong. Yuljae, how long has it been since we had fun?”
***