Chapter 45
After all the greetings were done, Rodi looked up at Hoyeon and asked a question.
Ren and Idi, who had only just noticed Hoyeon’s presence, stared in shock. Cloan immediately shifted into a defensive stance.
Only then did I properly introduce Hoyeon.
“This is Hoyeon, who will be taking care of security and odd jobs for our orphanage from now on. Hoyeon, these are my children. This one’s Rodi, that’s Ren, Idi, Cloan, and Jack. Say hello.”
Hoyeon raised a hand awkwardly, but the children’s reactions were not what I had expected.
The mood had grown heavy, and I didn’t know how to handle it.
Unable to stand it anymore, Cloan shouted.
“Are we a burden to you now? Is that why you brought someone like Romanda again?”
“Ah.”
Only then did I realize why the children’s reactions had been so cold.
Because they had already been hurt by Romanda, they couldn’t trust the new person I had brought in.
I shook my head firmly.
“A burden? Cloan, of course not.”
“But—!”
“I hired Hoyeon to protect you. He will never hurt you the way Romanda did. You don’t need to worry.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. Don’t you trust me?”
When I crouched down and looked him in the eyes, Cloan hesitated, then gave a small shake of his head.
Looking at him with pride, I stood back up and said:
“First things first—you should unpack and wash up. I’ll come back out later and make breakfast, so wait for me.”
I spoke to the children, then returned to the director’s office with Hoyeon.
I set down the bag I had been carrying, searched through the wardrobe, and handed him some clothes that might fit. He was smaller than me, so they would do without trouble.
“You can use the room under the stairs on the first floor. It used to be a storage room, but I cleaned it out so you’ll have no problems. Hungry? Wash up, and I’ll prepare breakfast. Do you have any favorite foods?”
At my question, Hoyeon, who had been staring blankly at the clothes, shook his head.
“No.”
I smiled warmly.
“Hopefully my cooking will suit your taste. Now, go wash up.”
“…Yes.”
With an unreadable expression, Hoyeon answered and headed to the room I had designated.
Left alone, I decided to wash myself first. I folded my clothes neatly, filled the tub with warm water, and lowered myself in.
“Mmm.”
A groan escaped as the tension melted from my muscles. I sank in up to my neck and closed my eyes.
‘So tired…’
Maybe it was because my body felt at ease, but the entire day flashed through my mind like a lantern show.
‘Meeting Seid, getting tangled up with that suspicious man, growing closer with Duke Creyman, rescuing Hoyeon…’
Slowly I opened my eyes.
‘I wonder if Duke Creyman made it home safely.’
I couldn’t shake the words he’d said last night—that he was a “monster” and couldn’t mingle with people.
‘And by now… Vincente must have realized what happened.’
I dipped my lips under the water; bubbles rose and popped.
‘I really hope it all passes safely…’
Submerging fully, I prayed.
“What a mess.”
A man dressed in a pitch-black suit stepped into the ruined underground auction hall. His toe nudged against a corpse, and he pushed it aside.
“Any survivors?”
“We’re still searching.”
One of the men collecting corpses answered. With a sigh, the man swept back his silver hair.
He drew out a cigarillo, and his secretary lit it at once. Pale smoke curled upward.
As he inhaled, his violet eyes glinted coldly.
“Find them. Quickly.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Shivering at the icy voice, the man went back to searching through bodies. The secretary spoke quietly beside him.
“According to the guards, they sensed no attempt to escape. Not by elevator, at least, Lord Vincente.”
“Then they’re either still here… or already gone.”
His gaze drifted toward one of the rooms. At that moment, someone cried out:
“We’ve got a live one!”
Vincente strode over. A man lay there, breathing faintly—it was the one who had been sitting next to Siela.
Vincente grabbed him by the collar. The man flinched in terror, but Vincente ignored it and demanded:
“Who made this mess?”
“Ghk—”
“Talk. Or you’ll suffer more.”
He shoved the burning cigarillo close to the man’s eye. Trembling, the man forced his eyes open and whispered:
“A beastkin…”
“You mean the captured Myoin tribe beastkin?”
“And… a woman… golden eyes… red hair…”
“A woman? Was there any slave with golden eyes this time?”
“There wasn’t.”
“Then she must be the ringleader. I see.”
He flung the man aside and began walking toward the room where Hoyeon had been locked up.
“Dispose of him.”
“Yes, sir.”
The man’s scream followed immediately, but Vincente didn’t care.
The room was a scene of carnage. The cages were smashed to pieces, corpses scattered about.
Vincente ignored the bodies and went straight to the wall, touching a spot where a stone protruded.
“…Interesting.”
“They even opened the door to the underground passage.”
He alone had known of the staircase beneath this place.
But someone not only freed the slaves, they also knew the secret way out.
“At this rate, they must already be through the maze.”
Straightening, Vincente spoke without looking at his secretary.
“Find every woman in the Empire with red hair and golden eyes.”
“Understood.”
Though reckless, the secretary accepted without protest.
Vincente turned to leave. Though the auction house was a charnel ground, only fascination lingered in his eyes.
His red lips curved in a soft arc.
Brrr.
As I dried my hair after bathing, a sudden chill ran down my spine.
After dressing in something comfortable, I stepped out—only to freeze at the unexpected sight.
“Hoyan!”
“…It’s Hoyeon. Not Hoyan.”
“Ho-yeooon?”
“Hoyeon.”
While the other children still regarded him with suspicion, Rodi had cozied right up and was talking to him. The conversation, however, was a little odd.
“Hoyeon, do the clothes fit?”
Since Hoyeon was awkward at dealing with humans—especially children—I stepped in before things went too far.
“Yes, they fit well,” Hoyeon answered quickly.
“That’s a relief.”
Nodding, I looked at him anew.
‘They say the Myoin are the most beautiful among beastkin, but…’
Cleaned up, Hoyeon seemed to surpass beauty itself.
Snow-white hair, flawless pale skin, mysterious silver-gray eyes—and lips so red he looked like a snow spirit.
“Teacher Hoyeon!”
At that, Rodi shouted. Startled by the title, Hoyeon stammered.
“I’m not a teacher.”
“Why not? The director is a teacher, so aren’t you one too?”
“I haven’t taught you anything.”
“I’ll still call you teacher!”
Rodi clung stubbornly to him. Hoyeon looked to me for help, but it was Cloan who pulled Rodi away.
“Don’t cling to just anyone, Rodi.”
He cast Hoyeon a guarded look. Clearly, Cloan was suspicious of him.
Well, with his natural mistrust of people—and Hoyeon’s unusual aura—it was only natural.
‘But Rodi really seems to like Hoyeon.’
Rodi was the least wary of strangers, but his fondness for Hoyeon went beyond that.
‘Maybe it’s the book’s influence.’
In the original story, Rodi saved Hoyeon, and Hoyeon taught Rodi swordsmanship—the two becoming special to each other.
Perhaps it was fate, or the pull of souls.
As I pondered, a loud growl broke the silence. Everyone turned toward the sound.
Hoyeon’s face flushed crimson.
“Ah, sorry. You must be starving.”
“No… no, I…”
He couldn’t quite deny it. After all, they surely hadn’t fed him much in order to weaken him.
I gathered the still-wary children and led them, along with Hoyeon, to the dining hall.
At the table, Hoyeon hesitated until Rodi tugged him down. When he looked over in surprise, Rodi grinned.
“Eat with us!”
“….”
Hoyeon stared at him for a moment, then quietly sat beside him. Rodi giggled.
Watching the two of them fondly, I went to work.
Breakfast today was sandwiches stuffed with all kinds of vegetables.
I sliced the bread, filled it with fresh greens and bacon, and spread on my special sauce. Another slice of bread on top—and done!
Simple, but guaranteed delicious.
I piled them high on a plate. The children chorused “Thank you for the meal!” and each took one eagerly.
Only Hoyeon seemed unsure, his eyes shifting.
“You eat it like this.”
Ren pressed a sandwich into his hand.
When their hands touched, Hoyeon flinched. Ren, noticing, only smiled gently.
“It’s good. Try it.”
“…All right.”
After a hesitant bite, Hoyeon’s eyes went wide. Then he stuffed his mouth, chewing furiously.
At the sight, Cloan dropped his sandwich.
