Cries of Salvation (BL)

Breathing in the perfume-heavy scent of the living quarters, Haon cautiously felt his way forward, passing along creaking floorboards that shifted beneath his weight with familiar groans.

There was an almost sweltering dampness looming over the space, as though the walls had soaked up years of breath and sorrow and refused to release it. But as he moved deeper in, the air became noticeably clearer and the floor felt sturdier with smoother panels.

It was such a massive difference, although the distance wasn't too far apart—just a few corridors, but worlds away in comfort.

'I almost forgot about how it used to be. Is Esei comfortable living there all by herself?'

The thought settled uneasily in his mind, and he couldn't help but worry about the young maiden he had just dropped off.

She was only a budding courtesan, still learning the delicate dance of her trade, and so she lived at the very back end of the living quarters alongside many others in the same position.

That was why they had chosen to enter through the rear gate rather than the main entrance.

The back side was always dingy, with poor reception of sunlight that barely filtered through cracked windows. There were too many people for comfort and the rooms were super tiny, divided by paper-thin walls where whispers became conversations, and sleep was often broken by the shuffle of passing feet.

Those rooms were typically given to newcomers, cleaners, kitchen hands, and the aging courtesans who were no longer considered presentable.

Haon also used to live there not too long ago.

But everything changed the very moment sir Noha chose him for a position of favour.

He was granted his own private space in one of the nicer wings, where he was even allowed to bring his grandmother and younger brother to live with him. All without ever once setting foot on stage or being trained as a courtesan.

Although he still didn't know what made the man choose him when he wasn't even a courtesan, let alone a man suited for such attention.

Lost in these thoughts, he didn't realize he'd already arrived in front of his door until his hand brushed the smooth, carved frame. And as soon as he entered, the comforting aroma of pumpkin soup hit his nostrils.

'I wonder if Sao is away again.'

He thought about his brother who was always curt and hot-tempered whenever they crossed paths. Thus so far, the two rarely exchanged more than a few necessary words. But at least the young man was diligent when it came to looking after Grandma Mihum. And for Haon, that was all that really mattered.

'Let me check if she's fallen asleep.'

Tracing his footsteps and the cold feel of the wall, Haon slowly made his way toward the old woman's bedroom, his fingers lightly brushing across wooden panels worn smooth from memory.

Once he reached the doorway, he simply slid the door ajar and paused, dipping his head as he listened from the threshold. He could hear the light sound of grandma Mihum's breathing, which in turn made him smile in satisfaction.

Not wanting to disturb her peaceful sleep, he gently slid the door shut again, careful not to let the wood creak too loud. His footsteps gradually faded into the distance, swallowed by the hush of the night.

Soon after, another door slid open into a dark room that was sparsely furnished but nonetheless carried a cozy feel, shaped over time by the simple comforts Haon had come to rely on.

Haon walked in with known familiarity, and the very first thing he did was change his clothes into a comfortable cotton outfit which draped nicely on his slender frame.

Then, he dragged his tired body onto the bed, and sat upright for a while, allowing his mind to wander freely into thought. He recalled how he didn't hear any other sound besides his own and grandma Mihum, reaching to the conclusion that his brother, Sao, hadn't come back yet.

'He shouldn't be out too late,' Haon thought worriedly, biting lightly on the inside of his cheek. But there wasn't much he could actively do in these circumstances. Sao hated him, after all. Nothing he said would ever matter.

Haon's lean fingers patted down on the soft mattress, deciding it was finally time to lie down and get some much-needed rest to recover from the long day. When his head dipped onto the pillow, he found himself, almost out of habit, reaching up to touch the fabric still tied firmly around his eyes.

He had never developed the inclination to take it off, not even while sleeping. And by now, it felt less like a blindfold and more like an extension of himself–something that existed between him and the world as a silent barrier.

The only rare occasion he did take it off was when he had to wash himself or clean the very fabric. Moments that were brief and mundane, done quickly with his back turned toward the world.

'And oh, how can I forget.'

There was another scenario recently added to that small list.

It was whenever Sir Naho threatened him every time they were together.

'Let me see those eyes before I gouge them out.' That was his go-to phrase, rough like the man himself.

It had been exactly six months since they first met, but even to that day, Haon would still tremble near the man's presence. He simply couldn't help it.

The fear came too easily, like it was rooted deep in his body. Be it the gruff voice, the stone-like build, or the fiery breath that always seemed to reach him even before the words did–everything about the man was too much to handle.

Haon had heard people whisper about Sir Naho with great interest, usually from a distance and always in lowered tones.

They said he looked as intimidating as he sounded. And yet, the man had a gentlemanly appearance, with a perfectly symmetrical face to boast of–so perfect, in fact, it was enough to make anyone cry. Although it remained unknown whether the tears were of fear or admiration.

Brushing off these unnecessary thoughts like a forgotten name dissolving on his tongue, Haon turned to the other side of the bed, gently adjusting the blanket as he tried to lull himself to sleep. The room had fallen into silence again, and his breathing began to slow.

But just as he was about to be successful in his endeavour, a loud bang rattled the front door, jarring him awake.

"Haon, you have to come out! He is here!"

It was none other than Esei's frantic voice.