Embrace Of The Wolf And Fox [Taejin]

8 | Embrace Of Nightfall

As dawn unfolded over the courtyard, the first delicate fingers of sunlight stretched through the latticework windows, casting gentle rays that caressed Taehyung's face. Gradually, he stirred, feeling the warmth melt away the remnants of sleep. He let out a quiet yawn, his limbs stretching as if awakening from years of weariness, the peace of Seokjin's chamber infusing him with a sense of calm.

Stepping quietly through the chamber's door, Taehyung felt the cool wood beneath his feet, and his eyes instinctively scanned the familiar spaces, searching for the comforting figure of Seokjin. However, the sun, gilding the courtyard with golden light, revealed nothing.

Seokjin was absent, and a flicker of confusion crossed Taehyung's face. He moved slowly, almost hesitantly, his steps lingering at the study, the guest room, even peeking through the open entrance of the kitchen and the bath chamber, yet each place remained silent, devoid of Seokjin's presence.

His worry deepened, knotting into a soft frown. Just then, the faint rustling of garments announced Min-ah's presence. She moved through the hall with the practiced grace of a housekeeper well-versed in her duties, her gaze focused ahead. Taehyung, seizing the moment, stepped forward into her path. She flinched slightly, her eyes widening in surprise as she halted, glancing at him with mild alarm.

"Eum..." he murmured, the sound barely more than a whisper as he sought the words to ask where Seokjin had gone.

Min-ah's gaze narrowed, attempting to decipher his meaning, yet she caught the look of concern shadowing his features. With a quiet sigh, she addressed him, "Are you in search of Lord Kim?"

At the familiar name, Taehyung's face brightened, and he nodded vigorously. "Eum!" he repeated, the syllable carrying both eagerness and relief.

"Lord Kim has traveled to Jeonju on matters of trade," Min-ah explained, her voice softening slightly, perhaps recalling the closeness shared with Seokjin the previous night. "He is anticipated to return within a week."

Though Taehyung only faintly grasped her words, the tone and absence conveyed their meaning well enough. The brightness in his expression dimmed, and his shoulders sagged slightly in disappointment.

Min-ah observed his response with a fleeting smile of amusement. "You needn't look so forlorn," she added, a note of kindness creeping into her voice. "The Lord shall return soon enough. In the meantime, conduct yourself within these grounds. Perhaps you may refine your writing or work on your speech—they are both rather poor." She remarked dryly before continuing down the corridor, her footsteps echoing faintly as she moved away.

Following Min-ah's departure, she quietly instructed two servants to attend to Taehyung, ensuring he remained occupied. Shortly, they guided him back to Seokjin's chamber, setting out calligraphy paper, an inkstone, and a brush on the low wooden table, hoping to engage him in a quiet task. Taehyung settled down, his eyes flicking between the items with eager anticipation.

Their instructions were clear: teach him to handle the brush properly. Each time he held it, he seemed to cause mayhem, splattering ink and drawing chaotic strokes across every surface. His attempts were, quite frankly, an eyesore.

The servants, their faces composed and patient, began with basic instructions, guiding his hand to hold the brush properly. But, as they soon discovered, Taehyung's enthusiasm far exceeded his skill. With every attempt, his strokes sprawled across the paper like the untamed flow of a river. The servants exchanged resigned glances, a silent acknowledgment of the challenge before them.

Though he lacked finesse, Taehyung's focus was unwavering. Dipping the brush into the ink with far too much zeal, he pressed it heavily onto the paper, creating dark, uneven strokes that smeared across the page. His intent, they gathered, was to sketch Seokjin, yet what emerged was a single eye too large, a figure rendered more like a phantom than a man, and limbs distorted into shapeless wisps.