CH 2.2

Hwawoon, who was listening to Ahjin’s words with wide eyes because it was too ridiculous, suddenly raised his voice. Even if it was the case, someone just died. He was someone who died from saving their master at that. His wonder of how she could say something so viciously made him overwhelmed by momentary feelings and ultimately raised his voice.

“Your Highness…?”

However, Hwawoon couldn’t help but close his mouth. It was because this was not something that Hwawoon would be angry about.

“… No, it’s nothing. I guess I’m still a little sensitive about what happened yesterday.”

“Ah….”

“I’m sorry to raise my voice for no reason.”

Hwawoon slowly took a breath while spitting out words of apology to Ahjin before calming down his mind.

In fact, there was nothing wrong with Ahjin’s words. An orphan who was a low person like Hawoon wouldn’t be treated like a proper human outside. Then what about here, the imperial palace? He was a guard in the name only. He, the low person who entered this palace because he got the Emperor’s favor, was different from those guards, who were children of high-ranking officials.

He was in a position where he couldn’t protest even if his superior ordered him to die, and like what Ahjin had said, there was no word that could express his death from saving Concubine Yeon except blessing that he could never dream of.

Because I don’t even have a family to pick up my body, they probably just put it in a cart then buried it somewhere in the mountains.

When he was about to sigh like a habit because his complicated mind became even dizzier at that thought, Hwawoon was suddenly shocked to see Ahjin, who was kneeling in front of him while trembling. Ahjin was crying while shaking her head.

“Your-Your Highness… I… I… I’ve committed a grave sin… Please forgive me, Your Highness….”

“Wh-why are you suddenly being like…! No, what are you doing? Get up…!”

“No… no, Your Highness. How dare this lowly self hear the apology from Your Highness…. This slave is the one at fault…. I’m the one at fault….”

Hwawoon was so surprised at Ahjin’s sudden action that he couldn’t even speak, but now Ahjin was on the floor, banging her forehead and begging. Even while he was speechless, he was quietly listening to what Ahjin was saying and inferred. It seemed like the problem was that Hwawoon apologized to Ahjin a while ago—a big one at that.

Only then he did realize his mistake. What kind of master would apologize to their maids? Even if the master really did something wrong, it would be hard to find a master who would apologize to the lower ones in this world.

Moreover, if it was Yeon Hwawoon. The one who regarded the life of his maids as mere wild grass on the side of the road.

Hwawoon felt his head twitch once again, then he began to talk while trying to keep his voice calm.

“It’s fine. Now get up….”

“Your Highness….”

“I didn’t apologize to blame you. So don’t cry.”

However, regardless of Hwawoon’s efforts, Ahjin only became even more flustered by the voice that was gently soothing her.

Who was her master—Yeon Hwawoon?

As for him, he was someone who would hold the young court ladies accountable for failing to do their task to drive the birds away then beat them hard—saying what will you do if His Majesty doesn’t want to see me because my skin is damaged from lack of sleep that was caused by the sound of birdsongs which had made me wake up so early?

He was someone with a fierce temper that he had to blame the low people around him for the reason the Emperor didn’t come to his residence to feel relieved. The apology that came out from such a person’s mouth was nothing but an expression—I will rip you into pieces right now.

Of course, Ahjin didn’t know what kind of wrongdoing she had done. Rather, in order to match Hwawoon’s feelings, didn’t she even talk harshly about the innocent guard who died unfairly when she had no intention to do so?

Ahjin knew very well that those things meant nothing to her owner. If he wanted, he could just beat a mere maid—just because she was breathing.

However, that Yeon Hwawoon. Such a master was speaking in a supremely soft tone in front of Ahjin, who was frantically shaking her head.

“So you are also flustered because I suddenly become like this….”

“……”

“Didn’t I come back from death? It won’t be easy for you to adjust right away, but I hope you know that my heart is not the same as before.”

This is the first time Ahjin found out that her master was someone who could speak in such a gentle voice. From the first day she first served Hwawoon back in his parents’ house until now, her master had always been such a blunt person that Ahjin almost forgot that he was actually a person with a very beautiful voice. Of course, only when he was in front of the emperor, Hwawoon spoke gently, but even that was nothing more than a repulsive voice for Ahjin.

But now, Hwawoon was speaking to her with a calm and gentle voice. His voice was just like that of a loving person in nature.

“Stop crying now and get ready. Didn’t you say that His Majesty is coming?”

“Ah…! Yes, Your Highness. Yes!”

Ahjin unconsciously reached out her hands and she raised herself up while holding the handkerchief that was reached out to her. When Concubine Yeon fell into the pond and lost consciousness, she had hoped for him to not wake up for a long time because she was afraid of the evil things he would do to them. But, the master who disappointed Ahjin by waking up in just one day, kept acting like a different person and made Ahjin’s feelings complicated.

“Fi-first, I’ll take a look at your hair, Your Highness.”

But, could the nature of one person change easily? Now, even if he isn’t himself because of the shock that almost killed him, I’m sure he will come back in a few days. I can’t let my guard down just because of those kind words. Ahjin decided to grip herself even more and began to carefully comb Hwawoon’s hair.

In any case, it was clear that the situation would worsen if His Majesty came.