"There," Gu Jeoyoon whispered, pointing to the gate. "We have to make a run for it."
Lady Jae-hwa nodded, and they sprinted towards the gate. Gu Jeoyoon could hear the guards shouting behind them, their footsteps pounding the ground as they gave chase.
As they approached the gate, Gu Jeoyoon could see that it was locked, a heavy iron chain wrapped around the bars. He knew that they didn't have time to waste, and he quickly searched his pockets for something to use to break the chain.
His fingers closed around a small hairpin that he had found earlier, and he used it to pick the lock. The chain fell away, and Gu Jeoyoon pushed the gate open, revealing a narrow path that led into the marketplace.
"Come on," Gu Jeoyoon whispered, pulling Lady Jae-hwa through the gate.
As they emerged on the other side, Gu Jeoyoon could hear the guards shouting and pounding on the gate, but they were safely out of the manor. For now, they were free.
But Gu Jeoyoon knew that their escape was only temporary. That man would stop at nothing to capture them again, and they had to find a way to stay one step ahead of him.
"What now?" Lady Jae-hwa whispered, her eyes wide with fear.
Gu Jeoyoon hesitated, unsure of what to do next. But as he looked around, he spotted a figure watching them from the shadows.
"Wait," Gu Jeoyoon whispered, his eyes fixed on the figure. "I think I see someone who can help us."
The veiled man's sword flashed in the moonlight as he struck Lady Jae-hwa down, his blade slicing through her neck with deadly precision. Gu Jeoyoon's eyes widened in horror as he watched, frozen in shock, as Lady Jae-hwa's lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
The veiled man turned to face Gu Jeoyoon, his eyes glinting with a malevolent intensity. "This is a warning," he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "You're next if you don't do what I say."
Gu Jeoyoon's heart raced with fear as he stared at Lady Jae-hwa's body, his mind reeling with shock and grief. He knew that the veiled man was capable of anything, and that he had to be careful if he wanted to survive.
"What do you want?" Gu Jeoyoon demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.
The veiled man smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "I want you to do exactly as I say," he said. "I want you to come with me, to do my bidding. And if you refuse... well, let's just say that Lady Jae-hwa's fate will be yours as well."
Gu Jeoyoon's eyes locked onto the veiled man's, his heart pounding with fear.
"Just what do you want from me?"
The veiled man's eyes seemed to bore into Gu Jeoyoon's soul as he spoke, his voice low and menacing. "I want your body, Jeoyoon," he said. "I want your unique constitution, your special blood. And in return, I'll help you regain your status as a noble."
Gu Jeoyoon's eyes widened in horror as he realized what the veiled man was asking. He wanted to use Gu Jeoyoon's body for his own purposes, to exploit his unique physiology for his own gain. And in return, he was offering Gu Jeoyoon a chance to regain his status as a noble, to reclaim the life he had lost.
"I don't know," Gu Jeoyoon said finally, trying to stall for time. "I need to think about it."
The veiled man's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, Jeoyoon," he said. "You don't have a choice.You're mine now, whether you like it or not."
"..."
"Fine...you want to sleep with me, you want to me to bear your child, you want to see just what my body can do...fine go ahead, I've already given up on escaping.."
Gu Jeoyoon muttered lazily, today's ordeal had made him realize that he was no match for this man.
The veiled man's eyes narrowed, his face darkening with anger. "Ah! You've given up so easily...I wonder if your hole is really tight?"
Gu Jeoyoon's face twisted in disgust as he listened to the veiled man's lewd words. How could anyone speak like that?
"Such nasty words should not come out of your pretty mouth, master," Gu Jeoyoon said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The veiled man's eyes flashed with surprise, and for a moment, Gu Jeoyoon saw a glimmer of uncertainty in his eyes.
"Oh...how did you know this mouth is pretty?" the veiled man stammered.
Gu Jeoyoon's eyes locked onto the veiled man's face, his heart pounding in his chest. He saw a flash of blue, a shade of blue that reminded him of the sea.
The veiled man moved, accidentally stepping on Lady Jae-hwa's body. Gu Jeoyoon's eyes widened in horror as he saw the disrespect with which the veiled man treated the dead.
"Master, please respect the dead," Gu Jeoyoon said, his voice trembling with anger. "This woman was my childhood friend and a good person. At least give her a bit of respect."
The veiled man's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "It was an accident," he said. "What do you take me for?"
Gu Jeoyoon's eyes locked onto the veiled man's face, his heart pounding in his chest. He saw a flash of vulnerability in the veiled man's eyes.
Without thinking, Gu Jeoyoon reached out and yanked the veil off the veiled man's face. The man's eyes widened in shock, his face twisting with anger.
"Hey! Who gave you the right to..." the veiled man began, his voice trailing off as Gu Jeoyoon's eyes locked onto his face.
Gu Jeoyoon's eyes widened in surprise as he saw the veiled man's true face. He was younger than Gu Jeoyoon, with a pretty face and piercing blue eyes. A small scar above his left eyebrow only added to his beauty.
"Ha, are you embarrassed?" Gu Jeoyoon chuckled, his eyes locked onto the veiled man's face. "You're younger and prettier than I thought."
The veiled man's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "Yeah I like men older than me...they tend to be wiser" he said. "I fully understand our age difference, but at this moment, you, Jeoyoon, are my servant. Do you understand that?"
Gu Jeoyoon nodded, his eyes locked onto the veiled man's face. Again he saw a glimmer of vulnerability in the veiled man's eyes.
Without thinking, Gu Jeoyoon turned away, his eyes locking onto Lady Jae-hwa's body. He felt a pang of grief as he saw her lifeless body, his heart heavy with regret.
"I'm sorry, Jae-ah," Gu Jeoyoon whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "I wish I could have helped you better. Now you've spent your last breath in such a place. Forgive me, I thought I could save you, but I realized I'm powerless myself."