Dancing In The Moonlight

Chapter 4: Light

Jeongguk has some hypotheses about how the other inhabitants of this manor, or lack thereof, but they are all confirmed when he talks to Lady Kim.

Ever since Jeongguk has come to this manor, almost two months now since his arrival, he avoided Lady Kim. She hated him, saw him as a thorn in her side, for apparently no reason. Jeongguk is used to that kind of treatment, but he doesn't care to seek it out either, so he sticks to Taehyung's side instead. Not like Taehyung lets Jeongguk out of his sight that much, always ringing his wretched bell, summoning Jeongguk to his side at every possible moment of the day. Sometimes during the nights too, now, something that Jeongguk looks forward to more than he should all things considered.

It only occurs to Jeongguk when he goes to the kitchen for a late-night glass of water, catching Lady Kim there with an aghast expression upon seeing him, that perhaps he too was being avoided. She looks positively terrifying shrouded in the darkness, like a specter of some sort, the only light in the kitchen coming from the dim candlelight. It paints her pristine features in a yellowish hue, shadows dancing across her features, sharpening them. In her hand, she's holding a cigarette, tendrils of smoke filling the darkness of the kitchen.

In this kind of lighting, Lady Kim almost looks like the decrepit lady he often sees in reflections, the thought turning his blood to ice. The smoke only serves to augment that image in Jeongguk's head.

"What are you doing here, boy?" she asks him, tone accusatory as she blows out a wisp of smoke.

It seems as if Lady Kim hasn't warmed up to him any, which is disappointing but not surprising.

"I – I was thirsty," Jeongguk replies, voice small.

Her eyes assay him, sharp in the candlelight, looks as if she's searching for something. It makes Jeongguk uncomfortable, her sharp gaze is similar to Taehyung's, but it lacks any warmth. Two pools of ice, razor sharp, could cut Jeongguk if he isn't careful.

"Thirsty from what?" she inquires.

"Uh, I woke up parched?" Jeongguk says, confused why she even cares. "I just need some water and then I will be on my way."

"Sit down, boy."

Swallowing, Jeongguk obliges her, sitting across the table from her on a wooden stool. Without any preamble, Lady Kim grabs his hand, sharp fingernails digging into his pulse. Jeongguk yelps at the sudden movement, pricks of pain searing up his wrist, yanking his wrist out of her grasp. He cradles his hand close to his chest, looking at her defensively, but her face remains passive.

"You're not perspiring," Lady Kim remarks. Idly, she pours Jeongguk a glass of cool water from the pitcher by her side, sliding it towards him. "It appears that you were speaking the truth."

Jeongguk doesn't understand why it would matter if he was sweating or not, but he lets it lie. Rather than replying, Jeongguk busies himself with gulping down the water, sighing in relief at how the coolness washes over his parched throat like a salve.

"Why are you really here, boy?"

"To drink water –"

"No, why are you here? In this manor?" Lady Kim asks, hostility dripping in her voice. "What's your angle? Is it money? If you need money, I'll give you however much you want and send you down your merry way."

Jeongguk puts the glass down slowly, wiping the dribble of water that dripped down his chin. His chest tightens, teeth grating, feeling all too warm despite the cool night weather. He takes a deep breath, letting it out again.

"I'm here to serve Lord Kim," Jeongguk replies firmly.

"You're here to make money," Lady Kim responds. She cocks her head to the side, eyes glinting in the candlelight, but remain cold all the same. "Poor people like you, you're all the same. Money is all you care about. That is something I can provide you with."