Daldal: Main story

Chapter 22

Dang-!

The bell announcing the start of the day echoed.

In the lingering dawn of outer courtyard, lights gradually emerged, spreading like an internal wildfire.

The first place in the estate to illuminate was the outer courtyard. Starting with Ae, the maids attending to kitchen duties busily prepared for breakfast.

Servants, having finished their preparations for the day, gathered in the place to obtain their morning meal and Ae served rice and soup as they arrived.

While not as abundant as the main courtyard, the monthly supplies allocated to the outer courtyard were always sufficient. However, Mr. Cho, who managed these supplies, believed that giving servants too much food would disrupt discipline. Consequently, the amount of food prepared was always slightly less than the number of people, leading to those arriving late being at a disadvantage.

Yet, as the mealtime approached its end,
Eun-oh was nowhere to be seen.

The boy who always arrived early seemed to be playing truant today. Perplexed, Ae, scratching her head, approached a man entering the place and inquired about Eun-oh's absence.

"Why isn't Eun-oh coming?"

The man was a snorer who shared the room with Eun-oh.

"Eun-oh? Who's that?"

"There's a kid sharing the room with you."

"Oh, that guy is Eun-oh? I didn't know."

"You're boasting about it. You've been harassing him every night."

Ae gave the man a stern look.

The snorer face contorted in embarrassment at Ae's harsh words.

"Who, who, who! Why should I treat a guy who isn't even a girl?"

The way he screamed was like a person who was full of pricks just by looking at him.

"Stop denying it! Just be grateful you're not in Gak-sae shoes. If you don't want to end up like him, stop harassing the kid. Stay out of the sight of the Young master."

"Ah, that's not true! Just give me some food!"

Ae clicked her tongue and scooped up food for the man.

"So, why hasn't Eun-oh come?"

"I don't know. How should I? He hasn't come in until late at night."

"He hasn't come in?"

"Not until I fell asleep."

"Oh my, didn't he run away because you harassed him?"

"No, really! I'm not making it up! Even if you scold me, I can't stand being falsely accused!"

The snorer puffed up his chest, as if issuing a threat, and let out a snort. However, to Ae, it was nothing more than a ridiculous act. She responded with a mocking smirk. After the man left, Ae inspected the remaining food in the pot and muttered to herself

Where on earth did that kid go?

"It's so cold..."

The hands clasped around the shoulders quivered-no, it was the entire body. Eun-oh shuddered as if a chill coursed through his spine.

With each exhale through pale blue lips, frost formed. It made a clinking sound as it collided with teeth repeatedly. His eyebrows, frosted with ice, twitched. After repeating the phrase "It's cold" like parrot, Eun-oh finally struggled to open his eyes.

Ah, I'm alive.

Despite being tormented by the cold wind all night, he somehow survived without freezing to death.

After wandering and getting exhausted, he must have unknowingly laid down somewhere. Judging by the feeling against his palm, the ground wasn't cold. It had a comfortable and oily texture, and there was a faint scent. It seemed like a wooden floor, possibly inside some building. However, strangely, cold air surrounded him from all directions.

It is only now that Eun-oh realizes the reason. It was open everywhere.

This was none other than Huwon's pavilion.

Even after he managed to open his eyes, he lingered motionless for a while, his body frozen stiff by the relentless cold. Recognizing the predicament, he tried to coax his head into a warmer position to thaw his body, but the icy grip held him in place, rendering him unable to move.

"Huuh..."

Each swallow felt prickly in his throat. The cold seemed to penetrate not only his skin but also deep into his bones. He understood the sensation now - it seemed that the chill had seeped into his very core.

Unable to move, Eun-oh wished someone would bring him warmth. Just as he entertained this thought, he heard a distant sound - a soft, crunching noise. As it drew nearer, he recognized the rhythmic crunching of footsteps on snow.

After a while, someone's figure appeared hazily in Eun-oh's vision. The person seemed to have noticed him and halted.

Almost involuntarily, Eun-oh muttered

".......Young Master."