Daldal: Main story

Chapter 11

How did things end up like this?

Eun-Oh cowered, glancing around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

It was natural - he had never been here before. This place was none other than the main residence of the manor.

As it was the dwelling of the master, unauthorized entry was strictly forbidden. On one side of the spacious courtyard of the main residence, Eun-Oh knelt and sat, feeling the weight of the unknown place.

Not only being here but also the journey to this place was strange. He didn't walk here himself; he was brought, or more precisely, he was carried.

'I will get rid of all the reasons you want to leave.'

Chae Yoon-sa had said. However, Eun-Oh, with a blank expression, blinked his eyes without understanding the meaning.

Chae Yoon-sa rose first, leaving a casual gesture, then moved away. Understanding it as an order to follow, Eun-Oh hastily stood and trailed behind. Chae Yoon-sa's steps were slow, and Eun-Oh was relatively fast.

Strangely, their distance did not seem to close.

The hurried pace eventually got entangled. Chae Yoon-sa's strides slowed, and Eun-Oh, who had been following his back, slipped on the piled snow and fell.

He fell so hard that his palms were cut and his pants were torn. Groaning, he placed his hand on the ground when he suddenly felt weightless and opened his eyes in shock.

The cause of this weightlessness was Chae Yoon-sa, who had lifted Eun-Oh's fallen body with just one arm.

Chae Yoon-sa held Eun-Oh's body against his side like a luggage, effortlessly carrying him. Despite wondering what was happening, Eun-Oh couldn't bring himself to ask to be put down. And so, he was carried away in such an unsightly manner. Now, he found himself in this situation-kneeling and sitting in the courtyard of the main courtyard, a place he had never visited before.

Of course, they were not alone in the main residence. That was the issue. There were people watching from a distance, people unfamiliar to Eun-Oh. Moreover, the nature of their gazes was clear-curiosity and fear.
Eun-Oh was the object of curiosity, and Chae Yoon-sa was the source of fear.

After a while, a few people entered the courtyard. Leading the way was Mr. Cho, followed by Gak-sae and the girl.

Mr. Cho approached with quick steps and stood with his hands clasped in front of the master. Gak-sae and the girl, who came in after him, stood side by side behind Mr. Cho and took a polite posture.

"Did you call me, Young master?"

Mr. Cho spoke first. It was an extremely polite tone. The bloodless face of the middle-aged man was devoid of the arrogance or irritation that he always carried. The only thing that existed was fear that resembled awe.

"Yes, I called."

"Indeed. For what reason have you summoned this guy?"

Mr. Cho cautiously posed his question, his eyes unable to meet Chae Yoon-sa's gaze properly.

This was typical of him. Mr. Cho always found it challenging to face Chae Yoon-sa, and he wasn't alone in this sentiment. Most people living as servants here felt the same way. It was because they had heard about the Young master and witnessed him in person.

While waiting for the Young master's response, Mr. Cho's mind raced. Why had they brought the servants from the outer courtyard to the main courtyard? Perhaps the Young master knew about the little mischief they were up to today. Was he trying to assert authority? If so, then summoning Gak-sae and the girl was strange. Mr. Cho couldn't fathom the master's intentions at all. Soon after, Chae Yoon-sa turned towards the back and gestured lightly.