Chapter 1: 1
Amidst the silk threads, there was a hurried exchange of sharp sounds and cries. Closing her eyes to the lewd and promiscuous noises, Eunha felt a sense of detachment. They were noble youths entertaining themselves with the kisaengs.
However, the owner of the place, sitting at the end of the table and drinking, remained silent. Merely smiling as if savoring the animalistic sounds.
Eunha tried to convince herself that she heard nothing and saw nothing, but her stomach churned, and it felt like she might vomit.
She wished it were a dream. No, considering the blurry scene before her eyes, she couldn't be sure if it was reality.
"Eunha."
Slowly opening her eyes, her gaze fixed on the man sitting across from her. As she did, a languid smile spread across the man's lips as he held the always-present smoking pipe.
"You're stubborn."
The opium-laden smoke wafting from the man's smoking pipe, the scent of someone's spilled blood, and the lamp odor of seed-soaked flesh stifled her breath. Kneeling, she struggled to overcome the pressure suppressing her, finally managing to speak.
"Does my lord find pleasure in these kinds of things?"
The man, slowly exhaling the smoke, laughed as if he had heard an absurd question.
"It seems you've forgotten that I cannot see. Since I can't enjoy it with my eyes, I should at least find pleasure in my ears. Hence, I bought you. I've given you gold, and I've bought your voice."
Despite his gentle tone, the man's gaze pressed on her like a tiger on the hunt, making it intimidating to meet his eyes. Normally, she was afraid to make eye contact, but today, summoning courage, she clenched the edge of her garments with sweaty hands and lifted her head.
"Yes, my lord owns my voice. Since they have not paid the price for my voice, I will not utter another word."
"Not utter another word?"
"If my lord cannot fully hear my voice... It's better to keep my mouth shut."
The man's eyes, slightly narrowing his forehead, flicker as if he could tear apart the figure in front of him. For a moment, Eunha forgot that he is a blind man.
With refined features and eyes that seem intricately sculpted by a skilled artisan, the man's gaze is deeper and darker than anyone Eunha has ever seen. How can someone with such eyes be called blind?
She tried to lower her head after parting her lips, but the man forcefully lifted her chin using the smoking pipe.
"Then, after I get rid of all those bastards, will you entertain me?"
A knowing smile graced the man's lips. Faced with a question that carried multiple meanings, Eunha couldn't bring herself to answer and bit her lip.
"Speak up. I asked if you would please me on their behalf."
The tip of the smoking pipe that had lifted Eunha's chin descended precisely down the collar of her garment. The neatly tied clothing unraveled, revealing the fair skin of her bosom. But the man's gaze remained on Eunha's eyes.
"I am not... a woman who sells her body."
"I know. You sold me your voice."
"But I don't understand why you're doing this."
Eunha clenched the front of her collar with trembling hands. Fear and shame surged within her.
The curious gaze of Seo Jihak, the deposed prince, towards the woman mimicking the posture of a jongisu, made her body shiver.
"Yes... How could I do this to you? How could I be angry with you? How could I want to hear your cries? Do you know how terrifyingly these embers inside me ignite when I see you?"
The calm voice of the seated man pierces Eunha's ears. Seo Jihak, who had been observing her with a tremor, directed a chilling command towards someone in the room without releasing the tension in her eyes.
"Yulje, pluck out the eyes and cut out the tongues of those who have seen the essence of what is mine now. They've witnessed something precious that even I cannot see, so it seems only fitting to take the appropriate measures."
At Seo Jihak's command fell, a figure lurking in the shadows drew his sword.
"My lord!"
Eunha, filled with a sense of despair, tightly shut her eyes.
Once again, someone is dying because of me. Because of me...
Tears welled up at the sounds of screams echoing from all directions, the thick scent of blood, and the desperate pleas for mercy.
Even in the midst of the howling wind where the scent of blood wafted, Seo Jihak remained remarkably composed. Setting aside the smoking pipe, he leaned forward and gently clasped her throat. Caressing the pulsating artery, he pressed his lips there.
"Sh... Don't cry. Until you pay the price for daring to leave me, I won't harm you."
Beyond the tightly interlaced window blinds, shadows danced restlessly in the dim light. The moon tilted, as if a storm was about to break.
-Chapter One: Last Day of the Lunar Calendar
In the early morning, a lively chorus of clattering and drumming reverberated through the snowy landscape that resembled spilled white powder.
"Heeya-! Let's move north!"
"It's a beast the size of a bear!"
"Ah, sir. It's just a wild boar the size of a bear? At least it should be tiger-size, shouldn't it? Don't you think so?"
Behind the annoying jests of the hunters, men carrying crossbows and muskets marched in a line.
Despite the excessive snow freezing their feet and soaking their knees, not a single complaint was uttered. With an air of chilling majesty, these six-foot-tall giants were mountain climbers and hunters.
In the harsh winter, incidents of tigers descending to villages, biting children and destroying barns became frequent. The people lived in fear and the government placed a substantial bounty on tiger skins.
In response, the mountain guards and hunters formed groups and ventured into the hunt themselves. They sold the valuable tiger skins and claws, sharing the meat among those who participated in the hunt to endure the winter.
"By the way, sir, do you know who that person over there is?"
Manbok, who was leading the way, gestured with his eyes towards someone among the hunters instead of finishing his sentence. With frozen cheeks in the cold, Deoksu, looking pitiful as if disdaining the biting cold, answered.
"Don't you know Eunha? She's the younger sister of Yongi, the best kisaeng in Buyeongan Hall!"
Startled by the statement that the person wearing male attire was a woman, Manbok blinked repeatedly, casting suspicious glances at Eunha.
"No way, that's Yongi's siter? Yongi... the kisaeng?"
"That 's right."
"Why on earth is she tagging along here? Oh, did she fall for you?"
"Tsk, you idiot. If anyone has fallen for someone, it's him. Do you know who the young master next to her is?"
"Ah, of course I know him. Isn't he the son of the Panseo estate? Young Master Yoon, isn't it? Who wouldn't know him?"
Manbok spoke bluntly and out of place, nudging Deoksu's shoulder. However, Deoksu remained coldly composed and lowered his voice.
"That's right. That kid Eunha is the one that Young Master Yoon fed, raised and even taught how to hunt. Well, he says he thinks of her like a little sister, but still..."
"No matter how you put it, it doesn't make sense. What's the point of raising a child who isn't even a man? They don't seem that far apart in age either. Could it be that...?"
Subtly clouding his tone, Manbok adopted a dignified posture as Deoksu sternly delivered a brief lecture, coughing theatrically.
"Oh, you! Don't be fooled by that pretty face and start a fight. Many have underestimated her and ended up with a bloody nose. Anyway, watch your mouth and don't spread gossip anywhere."
"I understand. But it's quite surprising that our young lady here is holding a gun. Wearing men's clothing makes her look like a beautiful Young Master."
Despite Deoksu's admonishment, Manbok found it difficult to divert his gaze from Eunha. After all, Manbok had never seen a refined woman like her before. She had a face as white as a rice cake and a nose as straight as a chopstick. She was quite tall for a woman, and her eyes were moist and glistening, like water. Even if you said the sky's stars were embedded in them, it wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Unable to tear his eyes away from Eunha, who held a musket, Manbok failed to notice a wild boar hiding a few steps ahead, staring him down.
Manbok, who could not take his eyes off Eunha, who was holding a rifle, took cover a few steps ahead.
"As I look, she's really quite..."
"Oh, Manbok!"
The wind blows, causing the snowflakes clinging to the branches to scatter like a flurry of small arrows. As if it were a snowstorm, the vision of everyone becomes hazy. Even while witnessing the tusks jutting out and the eyes stained with madness of the wild boar charging towards him, Manbok couldn't move an inch.
The wind blows and scatters the snow powder on the tree branches. Like sleet
It was a fleeting moment where his mind froze, devoid of any thoughts or the instinct to flee.
Bang!
The sound of a gunshot and the strong scent of gunpowder snapped Manbok out of his stupor.
"Eek!"
The wild boar that was charging as if to devour Manbok, collapsed with a scream, its snout pierced. The spurt of red blood tainted the pristine snow and splattered on Manbok's face as he sank to the ground.
Tossing aside his musket, Manbok grabbed Deoksu's hand, who had rushed towards him. Only then did the tension release, and tears poured out, accompanied by involuntary sobs.
"Oh, sir!" Crying out, Manbok embraced Deoksu, and a faint shadow crept behind them.
"Are you okay? You almost got into big trouble."
The owner of the beautiful voice was Eunha. Deoksu and Manbok could only mumble thanks, while Eunha gracefully knelt in front of them.
"Oh, thank you."
"Thank you so much!"
"Don't mention it."
Casually reloading the musket, Eunha, who had skillfully hit the wild boar's vital spot just moments ago, spoke nonchalantly.
"Hey, Manbok. If it weren't for our Eunha, you might have been on the brink of the afterlife. Understood?"
Then the hunt leader, who had approached Eunha, frowned as he stroked his bushy beard. He seemed to be blaming Manbok for the dangerous situation.
Manbok repeatedly lowered his head, apologizing while expressing his gratitude.
How could someone with such a delicate build accurately hit a wild boar in one shot? Typically, women were not as skilled and courageous as Eunha, who outshone many men in both strength and bravery.
"Eunha, are you okay?"
Approaching with a stern expression and a musket slung over his shoulder, Yoon Doryeong came to her side. Manbok bowed his head to Doryeong, who was staring at him coldly, and then stood up. Though he averted his eyes, his ears remained focused on their conversation. However, with the renewed clamor of the hunters, Manbok couldn't hear the conversation between the two.
"Oh, so frustrating."
Manbok couldn't believe that Eunha, who looked to be about his age, could be so pretty. He felt bitter, as if he understood why the young master of the Panseo estate was attracted to her despite her humble background.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone