Daldal: Main story

Chapter 116

The day passed, and morning dawned.

Throughout the night, most of the servants remained wide-eyed. It was understandable.

The impending storm had been forewarned, leaving them uncertain about their involvement, if any.

Even the victim of the incident, Hongju, and Dongseok were anxious. The verdict was to catch everyone without exception. Especially Dongseok, knowing that Eun-oh had fled because of him, felt even more uneasy.

Amidst the gloomy atmosphere of the main courtyard, the servants waited nervously in the wideyard, unsure of when the Young master would arrive.

And finally, Yohwan, who came to convey the Young master's word, appeared in front of them.

Walking purposefully somewhere near the main gate, Yohwan then decisively shifted his steps to none other than Kang-hee's door.

"..."

Yohwan paused for a moment. However, duty bound him to carry out the Young master's verdict, so he sighed with a heavy heart and, after a moment of silence, called out to Kang-hee.

"Kang-hee, are you inside?"

Responding to the summons, Kang-hee opened the door and stepped out onto the veranda.

"The Young master ordered me to bring you, pressuring you if necessary."

"Okay"

Kang-hee extended his hands willingly to Yohwan, his expression almost unnaturally calm, as if he had expected this outcome.

Yohwan, using a pre-prepared rope, bound Kang-hee's hands and whispered to him softy

"Just speak. If you want... if you wish, I'll..."

Kang-hee understood the unsaid words. It was a bold yet grateful proposition. However, Kang-hee declined with a faint smile. There was no intention of running away like this.

"Not yet, Yohwan."

Yohwan sighed.

"Let's go, to the Young master."

Kang-hee remained calm. His demeanor, untouched by fear, left onlookers more nervous than him. The Young master's summoning of Kang-hee held weight-it wasn't a mere call but a directive to bring him in, signaling that Kang-hee had been singled out as a suspect.

As they made their way towards the main house, Kang-hee's expression remained stoic. He was well aware that if anything went awry, it would turn out like this. It was a reckless move from the beginning, and Kang-hee understood the risks. Opting for feigned ignorance or straightforward reporting would have been simpler and safer. However, he chose a different path, nudging Eun-oh to flee on his own.

It had been a high-stakes gamble. Victory promised gain, yet defeat threatened a loss multiplied several times over. Now, the moment had arrived to confront the consequences of that gamble. Kang-hee's calm demeanor stemmed from his anticipation of such a predicament.

As Kang-hee cast a glance at those in front of him, his eyes first locked with Chae Yoon-sa's, then shifted to Eun-oh standing on the main house stair.

Kang-hee knew who among them was the most nervous in this situation.

It was none other than Eun-oh.

Eun-oh's current anxiety felt like the last stronghold in Kang-hee's eyes. Hence, he inwardly got the last laugh.

"You probably have an idea of why it turned out like this, so there's no need for explanations, right?"

True to form, Chae Yoon-sa stayed sharp, unruffled by Kang-hee's calm demeanor even in this tense situation. He quickly knew the reason behind Kang-hee's calm attitude.