Desolate Innocence ||T.K.V||

▶︎Chapter 10▶︎

Two months later~

Two months had passed, and Jungkook's life in the mansion had subtly shifted. His interactions with Master Kim, though rare, had become charged with an unspoken tension. Their encounter, while brief, was marked by a glimmer of something unusual in Master Kim's otherwise stern demeanour.

One afternoon, Jungkook was in the garden, watering the flowers. The garden had become his cover, a rare escape from the mansion's harsh realities. Master Kim walked into the garden, his presence imposing and his gaze steady.

Master Kim stopped a few feet away, his voice cutting through the quiet. "You're doing well here," he said, his tone firm.

Jungkook looked up, his hands trembling slightly as he set down the watering can. "Um, thank you, Master Kim," he said hesitantly. "It's... it's better out here."

Master Kim nodded, his gaze unyielding. "It should be," he said. "I've ensured that you're not subjected to unnecessary punishment. I expect you to handle this work well."

Jungkook swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "Yes, Master Kim. I—I try my best," he said, his voice wavering. "It's a lot better than... than other things."

Master Kim's eyes remained sharp, but his voice carried a tone of command. "I've seen what the maids do," he said. "It's not right. You'll do your tasks here without further abuse."

Jungkook's gaze fell to the ground. "I... I don't understand why you're—why you're doing this," he stammered. "But, um, thank you."

Master Kim's expression remained stern, his voice brooking no argument. "You don't need to understand," he said. "You need to follow orders and keep working. This is how it is."

Jungkook nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "Yes, Master Kim. I'll... I'll keep working."

Master Kim gave a final commanding glance. "Good. Don't let your guard down. Keep up the work, and don't make me regret this."

As Master Kim turned and walked away, Jungkook watched him with a mix of apprehension and reluctant gratitude.

These two months were like an escape from the maids' haunting and the dark voices in his head, he was a little relieved by the gratitude shown by Master Kim, the elder man was nothing but leniently kind toward him in a stern aura.

Jungkook was wiping down a hallway when Master Kim approached, his gaze blank as he stared at Jungkook's small body pale and extremely thin, his wrist was delicate and skinny, almost sticking to the bones.

"Jungkook," Master Kim called out, his tone firm but not as harsh. "I need the books in my office rearranged. They're in disarray."

Jungkook looked up, surprised. "Master Kim, is there a problem with the current arrangement?" Master Kim's expression was stern but contained a hint of something softer. "The way they're arranged makes it difficult for me to find things. I prefer them organized in a specific order. Take care of it."

Jungkook nodded, relieved to be given a different task. "Yes, Master Kim. I'll get to it right away." Jungkook made his way to the office, he felt a slight easing of the pressure that had been mounting from his previous tasks.

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Master Kim sat in his opulent study, surrounded by paperwork and empty whiskey glasses. His mind drifted toward an image of Jungkook, his fragile frame barely visible in the harsh light. Master Kim's fingers drummed impatiently on the desk as he mulled over the sight before him.

He remembered seeing Jungkook in the hallways, barely able to keep up with the demanding tasks, his thin frame almost translucent against the harsh light of the mansion. The boy's condition had weighed heavily on Master Kim. A sigh escaped Master Kim's lips as he contemplated the situation. He leaned back in his chair and muttered to himself.