"You're already finishedl?" Yeon-jin asked, her eyes wide with surprise. Woo nodded, pushing the empty basket forward. With his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Kang-oh, he focused solely on the task at hand, determined to keep his thoughts from wandering.
He barely slept during the night. Tossing and turning, Woo eventually gave up and began working on the remaining beans before dawn. By morning, a small mountain of empty shells had piled up beside him.
The night before, when Woo wasn't around, Yeon-jin had left the basket and gone to bed. But seeing what Woo had accomplished by morning, she was taken aback.
"It's just... I didn't have anything else to do..." Woo stammered awkwardly in response, avoiding her gaze.
Yeon-jin frowned, clearly displeased.
"I was supposed to help you. If you do everything yourself, what does that make me? A terrible servant who makes our guest do all the work? Look at your eyes... they're so dark under there."
Woo didn't care if his tired appearance was noticeable; no one important would see him anyway. His focus was entirely on the now-empty basket of beans.
"Could you bring me just one more basket?"
Yeon-jin's expression sharpened at his request. "Are you planning to stay up all night again?"
"..."
After a moment of silence, Woo hesitantly parted his lips.
"I feel like if I sleep, I'll have nightmares... Is that not okay?"
The words he carefully spoke carried a heaviness that felt uncomfortable. Yeon-jin frowned slightly before picking up the beans Woo had shelled.
"I'll go to the kitchen to ask about it."
At those words, Woo's face softened a little.
"Thanks to you, I'm... managing just fine."
"I have too little to do, actually." Yeon-jin muttered under her breath. Even when she tried to tidy up the room, there was almost nothing to touch. She glanced around, as if searching for even a speck of dust in the room. Eventually, her gaze landed on the window.
"Shall we clean this up soon?"
At the end of her gaze was a wilted blue peony, sadly placed there. Despite her efforts to change the water daily, a flower detached from the tree couldn't survive for long.
Remembering what was by the window, Woo shook his head vigorously. "N-No."
In a rush, Woo bit his tongue after speaking. The sharp pain made tears well up in his eyes, though it wasn't from wanting to cry—it was a reflex.
He knew he should remove the peony. He had watched it fade day by day, its vibrant color dulling, its petals drooping without the moisture they once held. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to throw it away.
The only thing he had kept by his side, unable to even accept Kang-oh's slightest attention, was the blue peony. He couldn't discard that either.
Anyone who saw him would have every right to laugh at his predicament. Despite trying to push Kang-oh away, he couldn't even throw away a single wilted flower.
For Woo, it was hard to tell whether this feeling was guilt or just selfishness.
Yeon-jin, sensing that Woo wouldn't mention why he couldn't throw away the flower, stood up from her spot.
"I'll roast these beans. If you roast them over straw, they'll be nice and fragrant."
"It's fine, really…"
With a slight grunt, Yeon-jin stood and added, "You've worked hard, so you should at least get to enjoy the taste."
Woo felt a mix of gratitude and reluctance. He wanted to protest, to tell her that he didn't deserve such kindness, but he couldn't keep shaking his head.
Woo continued to shell a few more beans, waiting for Yeon-jin to return. He diligently worked, wiping away the tears that had pooled in his eyes after biting his lip earlier.
As he sensed a presence lingering by the door, he stood up, thinking that Yeon-jin must have come back with the roasted beans. Perhaps she was busy with her hands and couldn't open the door, pacing back and forth instead.
"Ah..."
Opening the door without a second thought, Woo was taken aback to find Kang-oh standing there. The words escaped his mouth before he could stop himself, his voice in a daze. He hadn't expected Kang-oh to come at this hour. Normally, he would be at Honamgak by now.
Kang-oh glanced at Woo's face, then noticed the soot on his hands. He peered over Woo's shoulder into the room. The blanket on the floor was still in disarray. Not only that, but there were also a pile of bean shells next to where Woo had been sitting just moments ago.
"When did the kitchen move to your room?" Kang-oh asked, his tone laced with confusion.
Woo flinched at the unexpected scrutiny, his shoulders tensing. Anxiously biting his lip, he stammered, "I... I had nothing to do, so I asked to be given something to pass the time…"
Kang-oh's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of discomfort crossing his face. He hadn't intended to interrogate Woo right after their awkward parting the night before.
"You don't need to be so nervous,"
Kang-oh took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before continuing.
"Today... I came to apologize."
"Aologize?" Woo asked, surprised.
"I came to apologize for imposing my way on you," Kang-oh explained.
"..."
"I assumed that, like everyone else, you would naturally hate the Third Internal Officer and want revenge against him. But that was a one-sided imposition and I failed to consider your feelings."
Woo bit his lip, struggling to understand why Kang-oh was going to such lengths for him. Why was he being so considerate?
"There's no need for you to apologize, Third Disciple. You spoke on my behalf, solely for my benefit…" Woo stammered, trying to deflect the apology.
"To say I was doing it for your sake while actually forcing my own intentions upon you is something I should apologize for," Kang-oh said, a bitter smile crossing his face.
"Now that I think about it, I also regret not saying this sooner. It took me a whole day to even apologize—what a clumsy human I am."
"N-No, that's not necessary. People usually don't apologize for things like this," Woo spoke, his voice unusually heated, as if the moment itself ignited a fire within him.
"I... I know well. I've experienced it time and time again..."
Though his voice gradually softened, the fervor behind his clumsy words was meant to comfort Kang-oh.
Kang-oh carefully extended his hand. From the moment he had first visited Woo's quarters, he had been concerned. As Woo was peeling the beans, some soot had stained the area under his eyes.
"There's something under your eyes.," Kang-oh remarked, clicking his tongue.
Startled, Woo instinctively stepped back, rubbing his eyes as he replied, "I... I haven't been able to sleep well..."
"Have you been having trouble sleeping?" Kang-oh's brows furrowed slightly, as if he hadn't expected such a response.
Woo felt a twinge of confusion, thinking Kang-oh was referring to the dark circles that Yeon-jin had also pointed out.
"Didn't you say there's something under my eye?" Woo asked, puzzled.
"I meant that soot got under your eyes while you were peeling the beans…" Kang-oh showed the hand he used to wipe Woo's eyes, revealing a dark stain on his palm.
In an instant, Woo's face turned pale. He rushed to the window and peered into the basin of water where withered peony petals floated. The reflection in the surface of the water wasn't as clear as a rare mirror, but it showed his darkened eyes, marred by the remnants of his earlier work.
The moisture had caused the dark marks to spread, making them look even worse.
Feeling heat rise to his cheeks, Woo roughly rubbed at his eyes with his sleeve and lowered his head.
"I apologize for showing you such an unkempt appearance since this morning."
"There's no need to apologize." Kang-oh responded, his fingers idly touching his lips. A faint smile lingered there, barely visible. Woo, feeling foolish and embarrassed at his appearance, bowed his head even lower, but Kang-oh's voice reached him.
"The peonies I gave you. They've withered, yet they still occupy your window."
"Th-that's…"
Woo hesitated, the weight of his tongue making it hard to admit that he couldn't bring himself to throw it away. His mind, once sharp and quick, felt completely frozen, leaving him unable to conjure up a better excuse. Instead, he simply turned his gaze away, avoiding Kang-oh's eyes.
"It was the first time I saw such a beautiful flower, and I wanted to hold onto it, even as it withered…" The excuse that slipped from Woo's lips was weak and lacking conviction.
When Kang-oh didn't respond, Woo felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. He cautiously lifted his gaze.
The man he met eyes with smiled gently. It was a smile as fresh and green as a newly sprouted leaf, full of warmth and excitement.
Woo's heart sank.
"Next time, I'll choose something even more beautiful,"
The tenderness in his tone made Woo feel dizzy, and he instinctively squeezed his eyes shut, overwhelmed by the emotions swirling within him.
"I'm here."
At that moment, Yeon-jin's voice came from the door. Hearing it felt like finding a golden lifeline, and Woo hurried toward the door.
But Kang-oh was quicker. He was closer to the door, and Woo's injured leg slowed him down. Yeon-jin, carrying a basket of beans tucked under one arm and a plate of roasted beans in the other, smiled as she approached, thinking Woo had opened the door for her.
"Are you that happy to see the beans? You came to greet me so quickly, ah—"
Believing she was addressing Woo, Yeon-jin absentmindedly raised her head—and found herself face-to-chest with a broad, familiar figure.
And then, she looked up further to meet the face of someone even taller.
The Third Disciple, Ye Kang-oh, stood before her.
Yeon-jin collapsed to the floor. The beans that had been neatly stacked in the basket she was holding spilled out in all directions, the roasted ones bouncing and scattering, but none of it mattered to the panicked Yeon-jin. She threw herself flat on the ground, begging for forgiveness.
"I-I am so sorry. The servant who should have properly attended to the guest ended up bringing work instead. Please, I beg for your leniency...!"
Kang-oh looked down at the trembling Yeon-jin, his expression devoid of any particular emotion. He felt only a sense of regret for not having anticipated Woo's boredom, which had led him to secretly shell beans to pass the time.
"It was my request first. If punishment is to be given, let it be given to me..." Woo, sensing the silence was filled with tension, stepped forward, gesturing as though to block Yeon-jin and opened his mouth. His usual wavering gaze was now firm as it locked onto Kang-oh.
Just as Kang-oh was about to assure them he had no intention of punishing anyone, he suddenly hesitated.
He felt something strange in this moment.
Yeon-jin, still lying flat on the floor, was waiting for whatever treatment Kang-oh would decide upon. And standing in front of her, as if to face him, was Woo.
Normally, people from the Black Sky Clan would behave like Yeon-jin in front of Kang-oh—acting only on orders, carrying them out without question. It was rare for anyone to speak to Kang-oh first, unless it was to report a matter he had instructed them on.
But Woo, while bowing his body to Kang-oh, never wavered from his own intentions. He asked for orders, but if they went against his beliefs, he would attempt to discuss them. Kang-oh didn't find this unpleasant, so he didn't feel any significant discomfort—he just found it to be peculiar.
However, as he observed Yeon-jin and Woo standing together at that moment, he recalled Il-woon's words.
"That man... he's excessively bold."
The description was not inaccurate. While Yeon-jin was deferential to the Third Young Master of Black Sky, Woo was looking directly at Ye Kang-oh, unflinching. The authority to punish subordinates rested solely with Kang-oh, yet here was Woo, asking to be punished without pleading for mercy.
The mindset that he could negotiate like this clearly showed that Woo was not an ordinary person.
The doubts that had been lingering within Kang-oh's mind resurfaced once again.
"Get up."
Yeon-jin hesitated but eventually rose, still keeping her head bowed low.
"You've already been protected by him twice now," Kang-oh noted, his tone casual.
Frozen in place, Yeon-jin trembled slightly at the fact that the owner of Hee-do Won remembered her. It wasn't out of joy—it was fear. Given that she had been assigned to keep an eye on Woo by Seo-mun Geumryeong, Yeon-jin's goal was to stay as quiet as possible.
If she had known that Kang-oh would be familiar with her face, Yeon-jin would have never offered her help.
"Make sure he has no discomfort while staying at Hee-do Won," Kang-oh instructed.
"Y-Yes, I will keep that in mind," Yeon-jin replied, bowing her head deeply.
As Kang-oh brushed past her, Woo noticed him glance in his direction, nodding slightly. Woo responded with a polite bow of his own.
Once Kang-oh's presence had completely faded, Woo finally spoke up.
"He's gone now."
Yeon-jin, who had barely been standing, collapsed to the floor after hearing those words. Looking at her pale face, Woo felt a pang of guilt.
"I'm... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made that request…"
"It feels like half my heart is gone…" Yeon-jin, who usually maintained a respectful distance while fulfilling Woo's requests, now wore a distressed expression. She hugged her knees tightly, speaking in a hushed tone.
"The higher a swordsman's level, the harder it is to withstand their presence, but the Third Young Master seems to be on another level entirely. It's fortunate that he let it slide this time, but what will happen next time...?" Yeon-jin muttered gloomily, and Woo felt compelled to comfort her.
"He's not that cruel of a person. If you explain the situation well, he will listen,"
With her head bowed low, Yeon-jin peeked up at Woo, her eyes wide with disbelief. It was as if she couldn't fathom how someone could be so naive.
"Explain? Situations? Those things don't matter to higher-ups. What matters is whether orders are carried out properly and the inconvenience caused when they aren't. We are just cogs in the machine—easily replaceable, with substitutes readily available." Yeon-jin's voice was laced with sarcasm as she spoke so matter-of-factly.
Woo blinked in surprise.
"You're truly something else. I heard you spent eight years under the cruel Third Internal Officer, yet how can you still think so naively?"
"I-I…"
Yeon-jin's pointed observation made Woo shrink back slightly. He had never even considered speaking up to the Third Internal Officer. No matter how unreasonable the orders were, he had never protested, nor had he resisted the continuous abuse. He simply complied as if it were some kind of divine punishment, and at times, he even ignored the person. It was an attitude far too arrogant for a servant. But Woo wasn't just any servant.
Since meeting Kang-oh, however, his behavior had changed significantly.
The relationship between them was far too tangled to treat lightly. It was one of those connections that was unilaterally understood, where showing any emotion was out of the question.
The reason Woo had begun to act so freely, to the point of being called naive, was undoubtedly due to his trust in Kang-oh. The belief that Kang-oh would never harm him had taken root deep in his heart, making it impossible for him to dismiss Kang-oh as he did the Third Internal Officer.
"You should be careful. They say even the Lord of Black Sky doesn't know the Third Disciple's true intentions." Yeon-jin warned.
"Ah, I know," Woo replied, a bitter smile crossing his face. Was there anyone else under this sky who understood that fact as deeply as he did right now?
"He's completely different." His words flowed out smoothly, without hesitation or stammering,
For a moment, there was a flash of intrigue in Yeon-jin's eyes, but it quickly faded. Sometimes, more than what was visible, something deeper could be read from Woo. However, Yeon-jin's experience was too limited to put a name to it.
She simply thought of him as a man full of secrets.
"I worked hard to roast them, but they all fell on the floor,"
"W-We can still eat them," Woo responded enthusiastically to Yeon-jin's slightly downcast tone.
"You shouldn't eat the beans that fell on the floor," Yeon-jin insisted.
"B-but... I peeled them. And... and Yeon-jin carefully roasted the beans."
"Yes, and because of those beans, I almost lost my neck just now."
Woo's mouth snapped shut at the dark muttering. He hesitated, then after a moment, his lips moved slightly.
"Th-the Third Disciple isn't that... that scary."
"...What?" Yeon-jin wondered if he had heard that correctly.
"I really believe that... Please trust me,"
"Haha..."
Yeon-jin let out a dry laugh. It seemed that Woo was itching to say that the Third Prince of Black Sky Clan wasn't bad. After all, he had been taken from that dreadful Third Internal Officer and given a place to stay in Hee-do Won. Maybe Woo had come to believe that he was like a heavenly benefactor.
"Alright. I'll believe you."
At her words, Woo's expression brightened. Yeon-jin thought to herself that Woo was quite a strange person, then started sweeping up the beans that had fallen to the floor.
It was because he was worried that Woo might just pick them up and eat them. As Yeon-jin began cleaning, Woo fidgeted, almost as if wanting to help, but his fingers only twitched.
After the blue sky passed, it was a calm afternoon.