- E S A R E T -
- Chapter 2 -
The door slowly opened, and someone entered the room. Hira opened her eyes and found someone infront of her.
"Who are you?"
She tried to identify the person, but the darkness made it difficult.
"Your punishment!"
The man's deep voice resonated through the dimly lit room, sending a chill racing down Hira's spine. She attempted to rise, determination flickering in her eyes, but her legs betrayed her, buckling beneath her like fragile twigs. As he seized the chain, she felt an inexorable pull, and before she knew it, she was thrust into his presence, colliding against him with an unsettling mix of fear and helplessness.
"What are you doing?"
Her voice drifted to him like a fragile whisper, barely breaking the silence that enveloped them. He wrapped the cool chain around his wrist, its metallic links glinting softly in the dim light, and fixed his gaze on her, his eyes searching her face with a piercing intensity.
"Treating you the way you deserve, Hira."
The way her name rolled off his tongue was heavy with anguish, each syllable laced with an unsettling mix of affection and torment. In his grasp, she quivered, her body reacting to the tension of his hold as if every moment amplified the weight of her uncertainty and fear. The air around them crackled with a charged energy, and her heart raced in response, a silent plea for freedom echoing beneath the surface.
"What did I do?"
"Narin!"
Hira's heart quickened at the sound of the name, each syllable resonating like a distant echo of cherished memories. Unbidden tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill over as vivid snapshots of laughter, whispered secrets, and shared dreams flooded her mind. The weight of nostalgia wrapped around her like a familiar embrace, both comforting and bittersweet, as she recalled the warmth of her friend's smile and the unbreakable bond they once shared.
"N-Narin?"
She asked, and the man gripped her chin, bringing her face close to his.
"You heard it once! Kang Narin, my sister!"
Hira felt the ground below her feet collapse. Blood rushed to her head, and she could not think straight. She felt dizzy as the person went on speaking.
"You killed her! You killed my sister!"
She neither understood what he was saying nor could she believe his words.
"No! I didn't do anything. I didn't kill Narin."
"Stop lying! You fed her poison with this bloodied hand of yours!"
"No, I don't know anything. I swear I didn't kill your sister."
He tightened his grip on her hair, tugging gently as her anguished cries filled the air, echoing her desperate plea about a mistake she insisted she had not committed. Silken strands slipped through his fingers as tears cascaded down her flushed cheeks, glistening like dew in the fading light. The weight of her heartbreak hung heavy in the room, and with a mixture of frustration and remorse, he finally released her hair, allowing the tension to dissipate momentarily.
"Lying would not take you anywhere, Hira. You're gonna make up for all your sins, Hira!"
Later that day–
"Taehyung, come my son."
Mrs. Kang welcomed her son, but paused when she saw a girl with him.
"Taehyung, who is this?"
She asked as Taehyung entered the house holding the girl's hand.
"She is gonna work here as a maid."
Hira looked at Taehyung, who had fire and hatred burning in his eyes.
"But Taehyung-"
"She's gonna work here. Mr. John, show her a room."
An old man bowed to Taehyung and took Hira with him. He took her to a room with a bed and a small window with no other ventilation.
"Wear the uniform."
He gave her the dress, which she hesitantly accepted, and locked the room. She felt her world crumbling, as she broke down crying. She rested her head on the door and sat on the floor, hugging the dress.
Soon, there was a knock on the door, and she hurriedly changed into the uniform.
"Hurry up, lady, you don't have the whole day."
The old man who was waiting for her screamed from outside.
"Yeah, I'm coming."
She opened the door and followed the old man, who took her to the swimming area.
It had been a full day since Hira had last experienced the refreshing embrace of clean air and the warmth of sunlight on her skin. The heaviness that had settled in her chest began to lift, replaced by a wave of relief and a soothing calmness that enveloped her. With a deep, revitalizing breath, drawing in the fragrant scent of blooming jasmine from the garden nearby, she gathered her courage and followed him, her heart a mix of hope and determination.
He opened a small cupboard and pointed at the stacked towels.
"Let's start from here. These are Mr. Taehyung's, they've to be neatly washed and folded every time. And if you miss it even once, get ready to leave the Kang mansion forever."
Though the old man's voice was harsh, he had said the truth.
Kang Taehyung, who cannot even afford a mistake, has no tolerance for imperfection. He is the kind of person who expects perfection in everything. Either be perfect or be out of his sight.
- E S A R E T -
- hated bleeds love -
