House of the Fog

“Ah, yes.”Dan sprang up like he was bouncing and bowed deeply to Taejae.“Hello, hello.”The greeting was short. There was nothing else to say about himself. He lives in an orphanage. He’s a male omega. He doesn’t have a surname. He felt there was no point in babbling on about these things.Dan clasped his hands neatly over his lower abdomen, keeping his eyes lowered, waiting for Taejae’s judgment. His tangled wig looked like a worn-out sponge, but Dan was unaware of this.“Well, if you’re curious about his name, it’s Dan.”Director Lee nodded as if confirming his words.“…”Taejae looked at Dan intently. Even though Dan kept his eyes on the floor, he could distinctly feel Taejae’s gaze.It felt like something sharp was scraping his skin. It was as if alphas could turn their gaze into a physical touch.Taejae didn’t scrutinize Dan’s face much. He didn’t seem to care whether Dan had two or three eyes. This wasn’t good news for Dan, who had washed three times that morning and wore a wig to look presentable.Taejae’s eyes moved from Dan’s slender neck, across his collarbones, to his flat chest. A chest as flat as a board, with nothing on it.At that moment, his gaze seemed to sharpen before landing directly between Dan’s legs, where there was a slight bulge, almost like a plum.Dan instinctively squeezed his thighs together but quickly spread them again. To close his legs in front of an alpha – if Director Lee had noticed, he would have slapped Dan hard.“Is this a boy?”Taejae asked, not taking his eyes off Dan.“Ah, yes. He’s a boy.”Director Lee responded with a startled expression as if caught hiding something.“I didn’t expect a boy to come…”Taejae murmured, stroking the scar on his left eyebrow up and down.Dan inhaled sharply. Did he not expect a male omega? This was a disaster. How ridiculous would it be for someone with no breasts but with a penis to show up? Even though it wasn’t his fault, he felt guilty and embarrassed.“There are no female omegas in the orphanage. They’re too valuable.”Director Lee said, crossing his legs. This was not a lie. There really were no female omegas in the orphanage. They were never abandoned in the first place.Female omegas were revered like alphas wherever they went. Occasionally, very rarely, they might end up in the orphanage if they lost their way or if their parents died, but they were quickly adopted. They wouldn’t stay in the orphanage until marriageable age. So, the only omegas left in the orphanage were male.“Well, occasionally one comes in, but they all get adopted before they grow up… There are no children big enough to bear seeds.”“This one doesn’t look particularly big either.”Taejae’s gaze moved to Dan’s hands. His hands, clenched so tight they were almost white, were small and pale. Each joint looked plump, whether from baby fat or just chubby hands, even his nails looked soft. They looked like a child’s hands.Though his face wasn’t visible, the aura he gave off was that of a child. Even if one were generous, he’d be in his late teens. If Taejae had married early, he could have had a child around Dan’s age.But to have a child with such a young boy… It was absurd.However, Director Lee beamed. Looking young was definitely a compliment for a seed bearer. Being young meant they were easier to take, and children would be born smoothly.“Oh my, he might look like a child, but he’s twenty, twenty. Sixteen years younger than you, Colonel.”“…”“And of course, he’s a virgin. He’s never even brushed sleeves with an alpha. He’s never been let out of the orphanage.”Director Lee said confidently, drawing a line in the air with his hand to emphasize his point. This would have made any other alpha laugh with satisfaction, but Taejae still looked uninterested.“…”Seeing this, Dan exhaled as if vomiting out his insides. His only selling points were his youth and virginity, and if Taejae wasn’t interested in these, it seemed unlikely he’d be chosen as a seed bearer.That’s when Taejae slightly furrowed his brow. His thick eyebrows rose and then fell. He pushed his hips deep into the sofa, took a long breath out, and then inhaled sharply. It was a strange breathing pattern, like he had smelled something foul.Director Lee didn’t miss that expression. He interpreted it as displeasure. He scooted his buttocks to the edge of the sofa and began to defend Dan.“Male omegas can bear children well too. They’re born for that purpose. They’re even stronger than females, so they’re good for work as well. They can bear children and serve as servants. It’s a win-win.”“I’m not looking for a servant.”“A seed bearer is a servant. What’s the difference?”“…”Taejae moved his Adam’s apple up and down significantly, then tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. After seeming to come to a decision, he brushed his hair back.“Let’s consider this meeting never happened.”This short sentence pushed Director Lee out of the mansion and sent Dan tumbling off a cliff.Dan froze. If they were sent back now, he’d have to return to the orphanage, and he couldn’t imagine how much trouble he’d be in. Director Lee would surely blame all this misfortune on Dan.Because you lack charm, because you’re stupid, because you’re so slow, and ultimately, because you were born a male omega.What would he be beaten with this time? Fists? A belt? Or maybe an iron pipe? Perhaps he’d be stripped and tied to the backyard monkey bars, left there for days without food, becoming a laughingstock among his peers.Dan’s shoulders began to tremble. However, Taejae, who had no interest in such matters, stood up coldly. It was a sign that he wanted to end this meeting.But Director Lee quickly grabbed Taejae’s wrist. Or rather, tried to. Taejae sharply swatted away the chubby hand that was reaching through the air. Had there been a sword in his hand, it might have cleanly severed Director Lee’s wrist with that sharp gesture.“Ugh…”Director Lee recoiled as if he’d been stung.“…”Taejae looked down at him with an emotionless face, yet his feelings were palpable. The air grew heavy.“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”Director Lee mumbled in a tiny voice, rubbing his now red hand on his thigh. His face flushed with embarrassment, but he didn’t give up. With big money on the line, he couldn’t let this deal fall through.“If you leave like this, what am I supposed to tell Major General Hwang? Should I say you turned me away at the door?”“…”Taejae’s movement to leave the living room stopped.Major General Hwang.He was a close friend of Taejae’s late father and Taejae’s superior. He was the one who was concerned about Taejae growing old alone without children and the one who had initiated this bizarre transaction.Taejae brushed his hair back again, biting the inside of his cheek deeply, then sat down on the sofa with a resigned look. He pulled out a cigarette from his jacket pocket and lit it.Director Lee’s eyes, which had been wrinkled with worry, suddenly widened in anticipation.Taejae inhaled deeply, his full lips holding the smoke before expelling it like a thick fog. Director Lee, stretching his neck towards Taejae, began to argue why Dan should be brought into his home.“To be honest, to be really honest, Colonel, don’t you have any other options besides this boy?”“You should continue your lineage while you’re still young. Who knows what might happen when.”“…”“Even if a male omega is a bit unpleasant, they can bear an alpha child, can’t they? Just once during the heat…”“I’m not desperate enough to spread a boy’s legs to continue my lineage.”Taejae said, expelling smoke again. His gaze was still dry. Even though Director Lee subtly demeaned him, mentioned curses, and spoke vulgar words about heat cycles, Taejae didn’t show any anger. He remained silent, calm, and tranquil throughout.Looking at Taejae, Dan felt he was very adult-like. Of course, given his age, he was naturally an adult, but having lived with Director Lee, who was always irritable, angry, and impatient, the comparison was inevitable.“Major General Hwang seems to think differently.”“What could be different…”Taejae twirled his cigarette, his voice trailing off, creating noise in the air.“Whether it’s a female or male omega, he wants you to have a child as soon as possible. He even called personally, asking for a beautiful child. And, of course, we’ve already received the money.”“…”“It’s hard to return it since most of it has already been used for running the orphanage.”Taejae raised and then lowered one eyebrow. Money. To Taejae, it was something easily and lightly handled. If this cumbersome conversation could be concluded with money, he was willing to pay any amount.“I will compensate for that. Ms. Gong.”Taejae slightly raised his hand. The woman appeared.“Yes, Colonel.”“Bring my wallet.”“Yes.”After receiving the order, Ms. Gong turned back with quick steps. Director Lee’s eyes darted side to side in panic, doing his calculations. He was figuring out whether the money he would get from Taejae here would be more or less than what Major General Hwang had promised if Dan bore Taejae’s child.The conclusion was the latter. The amount promised by Major General Hwang was enough to buy a brand-new car. That money was not something that could fit into a “wallet.”“Oh, come on, do you think I’m doing this for money? Major General Hwang isn’t short on cash either. He’ll be very disappointed if he finds out I returned the seed bearer. He might think you’ve disregarded his goodwill. It would make things difficult for you too.”Before Taejae could respond, Director Lee slapped Dan’s buttocks hard. Dan’s body jolted from the sudden slap, his wig going askew. Dan quickly adjusted it back.At that, Taejae’s eyes narrowed slightly before returning to normal.“This is the best-looking boy from the orphanage. Many had their eyes on him, but I brought him out specifically for you, Colonel.”“…”“Just try him for one night. I’ve taught him well; you’ll be satisfied. There are plenty of people who develop a taste for male omegas’… rear. It’s quite sticky.”Director Lee clapped his hands to express the ‘stickiness.’With such vulgar words and actions, Taejae’s expression subtly twisted in discomfort. It was unpleasant, especially since these were words rarely heard in Taejae’s world. Who would dare speak such lewdness in front of a colonel rumored to be a demon?Taejae twirled his cigarette, staring at Director Lee’s thin lips, which were incessantly chattering. When the bright red tip of the cigarette was in line with Director Lee’s lips, Ms. Gong appeared.“Colonel.”She was empty-handed, having apparently forgotten the wallet.“Yes.”Taejae responded, still keeping his eyes on Director Lee.“There’s a call from Major General Hwang.”However, he couldn’t help but turn his head at that statement. Instantly, the expressions of Taejae and Director Lee diverged. Director Lee’s face brightened as if he had gained an army, while Taejae slowly closed and then opened his eyes, looking resigned.Taejae stood up, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray on the table.“I’ll go take the call.”But Director Lee also got up.“Should I wait here? Or leave this boy here and go?”“…”“Oh, I mean, if it’s going to take a while. It seems like it might be time for me to leave.”The question had an obvious answer. Taejae couldn’t go against Major General Hwang, whom he served like a father. Both Director Lee and Taejae knew this.Taejae clenched and then released his jaw.“Leave him here.”With that, Taejae left the living room with large strides. The deal was now sealed, and Director Lee clenched his fist in triumph.After Taejae and Ms. Gong left, Director Lee flopped down onto the sofa. Then, he grabbed Dan’s wrist and shook it vigorously.“Dan, it’s done, it’s done.”“Yes, Father.”Dan’s lips curved up in response. If Director Lee was happy, so was Dan. How often could he make Director Lee happy in his lifetime? Maybe this was the only time.Director Lee drank the now-cold coffee with gusto. He also gathered the remaining walnuts with his palm and popped them into his mouth all at once, chewing loudly before getting up again.“Then I’ll be off.”Director Lee turned back with a broad smile. Having concluded a big deal, he planned to drink himself silly once back.“Already?”Dan asked with a surprised look. Director Lee turned back to him, getting so close that his bad breath was palpable as he whispered.“You need to get ready too.”“What… preparation?”“Oh, you idiot. Preparation for mating.”“…”“Even if Colonel Seol is acting all prickly about having a boy now, once night falls, he’ll come looking for you. Didn’t I teach you that no alpha can resist an omega? So, get yourself ready and wait.”“Ah, yes.”Dan swallowed hard.His shoulders stiffened with tension.He had heard his whole life that he must bear an alpha’s child, that he must give birth to an alpha, but now that the time had come, he couldn’t help but feel tense. Even if he was an omega born to bear children, the first time was always scary.With that, Director Lee left without further ado. Dan quickly gulped down the last couple of sips of cider and followed Director Lee like a duckling after its mother.Director Lee paid no mind whether Dan followed or not. He was already no longer his concern, having been sold off.When they reached the entrance, he casually tossed off the slippers and put on his shoes. But by then, his belly seemed even larger, making bending down difficult. He struggled, holding his breath to get his heels into the shoes, only to fall backward with a thud.Sitting on the shoe rack, he glared at his shoes with a red face.“Damn it…”At that moment, Dan crouched at Director Lee’s feet and began to help him put on his shoes. Director Lee relaxed his limbs, letting Dan serve him.“Um… Father.”Dan called softly after putting on one shoe.“What?”“Can I make a call?”“A call?”“Yes.”“To whom? Me?”“Yes.”Director Lee tilted his head sharply, his expression asking what this random question was about. Dan bit his lower lip and put on the other shoe.“How would you?”“There’s a phone in the living room… If I call secretly at night…”“Forget it. Don’t do anything to get on their bad side and get kicked out. Just stay quiet and behave.”Director Lee pushed Dan away. Dan fell backward onto his bottom. Using Dan’s head as a support, Director Lee stood up his heavy body, then looked down at Dan and warned him sternly.“I’ve said it clearly. Don’t get kicked out. If you come back alone, I’ll beat you black and blue.”“…Yes.”“If Colonel Seol is a bit rough, or hits you, just think you did something wrong.”“…Yes, Father.”Dan answered weakly, slowly getting up. His sagging wig seemed to reflect his mood.Director Lee pushed open the door, then glanced at Dan. At the small, thin, unattractive, and foolish male omega. He pursed his lips and placed a hand on Dan’s shoulder.“Dan.”“Yes?”Dan quickly looked up. Director Lee met his eyes through the strands of the wig and spoke in a somewhat gentle voice.“You can do it well, right? I believe in you.”“…”“Don’t disappoint me. You’re my favorite in the orphanage, aren’t you?”“…”“So do well. Okay?”Director Lee patted Dan’s shoulder. But he quickly withdrew his hand, finding the wig repulsive as it brushed against his knuckles. Dan already felt like he was tainted by the curse of this mansion.“I’m leaving.”Director Lee hurried out of the house as if being chased. The massive front door opened, and damp fog flowed in. Director Lee stepped into that fog with long strides. Dan watched him quietly.The thick fog made Director Lee disappear from sight after just five steps. The door closed around that time.Thus, Dan was left alone in this unfamiliar mansion.Dan gently stroked his shoulder where Director Lee had touched him.Dan stood alone beside the living room sofa. He didn’t know how long he had been standing there, but his knees were starting to ache. He took deep breaths and adjusted his wig, but no one appeared.“…”Dan fidgeted with the handle of his bag. Something came off on his hand; the bag’s paint was peeling. Dan sniffed his hand, smelling a musty leather scent.Frowning, he rubbed his palm on his side to clean it when he heard someone approaching. Dan inhaled sharply and stiffened.The source of the sound was Taejae and Ms. Gong. Taejae was in just a shirt and tie, without his jacket. Standing at the entrance of the living room, he had one hand in his trouser pocket as he looked at Dan. He didn’t approach or speak; he just watched.Dan fidgeted with the bag handle, waiting for Taejae’s voice. But it was Ms. Gong who spoke first.“Where should this boy’s room be…”“The first room.”Taejae answered without hesitation. Ms. Gong nodded and approached Dan, nodding her head.“Follow me.”“Yes? Oh, yes!”Ms. Gong crossed the living room, passed by the still-standing Taejae, and headed toward the entrance. Dan followed her with his head bowed. As he passed by Taejae, he held his breath.Dan didn’t ask about the destination. Whether it was a storage room, a parking lot, a basement, or an attic, he had no right to refuse.Walking behind Ms. Gong, Dan suddenly turned back to see if Taejae was watching him go. But he was no longer there.Dan gripped the bag handle tightly.Dan’s room wasn’t far. In fact, it was too close. It was the first room to the right from the entrance. It wasn’t a storage room or a bathroom; it was genuinely a ‘room.’It was an overly generous space for a seed bearer, but for some reason, Dan wasn’t particularly happy.The room nearest to the entrance, closest to the door. It felt like an urging to leave this house quickly.Ms. Gong personally turned the golden doorknob and opened the door.“Go in.”“Ah, yes.”Dan tentatively stepped inside.The room was spacious. It was incomparable to the cramped orphanage room where a dozen people slept tangled like yarn. It even looked larger than Director Lee’s office.The wallpaper was clean without mold or stains, and there was a wide window on one side. There was a bed, wardrobe, desk, and bookshelf, all evidently of high quality. It was, by far, the most luxurious place Dan had ever stayed.Surprised by such luxury, Dan looked at Ms. Gong with a puzzled expression.“Am… am I staying here?”“Yes.”“Alone in this large space?”“Yes.”Ms. Gong didn’t boast that Dan should be grateful for having such a room. She maintained an indifferent face throughout. Neither Taejae nor she seemed to show anger or irritation. They probably wouldn’t laugh even if someone tickled their feet.“The bathroom is right outside; open the door to the left when you leave. You’ll probably have it to yourself, so use it comfortably.”“Ah, yes. Thank you.”Dan bowed deeply, his wig clattering, but he was now accustomed to it and pressed down on his crown beforehand. Ms. Gong nodded and closed the door. Dan watched the door close and once again expressed his gratitude in a high voice.“Thank you very much. Ong, no, Ms. Gong, Ms. Gong.”His tongue got tangled with the awkward address. He thought he saw Ms. Gong’s lips curl up slightly through the closing door, but he couldn’t be sure.Even after Ms. Gong had left, Dan continued to stare at the closed door, half-expecting her to return and say there had been a mistake, that this wasn’t his room. But after several minutes, there was only silence beyond the door.Dan put his bag down under the bed and took off the wig that had been bothering his neck. The acrid smell of glue disappeared, and he felt like he could breathe more freely.After taking a few deep breaths, Dan began to examine the room carefully.There was a soft carpet under the bed. The wallpaper had a faint pink background with white vines drawn all over it. On the wall opposite the bed hung a picture commonly known as “insect and grass” with butterflies and flowers, and next to it was a bookshelf.Through the large window, thick fog was visible, and right in front of it was a desk with a desk clock, a mirror, and a lamp on it. On another wall, there was a large built-in wardrobe made of wood.Dan clicked on the desk lamp, and a bright golden light flooded out. He gently caressed the lamp switch with his thumb, murmuring to himself.“…Did he like me?”If not, why would they give such a room to a seed bearer? Could it be, as Father said, that an alpha can’t refuse an omega? Or was he just pretending to be cold because of pride but actually okay with a male omega?Yes, that must be it. There’s no other reason to give such a nice room. It must be because it’s the room he’ll frequently visit, so they gave him a clean one. Someone like him wouldn’t go to a storage room for mating.After thinking it through, concluding, Dan nodded. Then he started unpacking his bag.From the old bag came half a sweet he hadn’t finished, a few notebooks that had gotten wet and then dried, a fabric pencil case with loose threads, two pairs of underwear, two pairs of white socks, and a thin white shirt with black pants.These were clothes Director Lee had bought for him. Even if he was a seed bearer, he shouldn’t look vulgar.Dan smoothed out the slightly crumpled clothes and hung them in the wardrobe. He also neatly placed the socks and underwear below. The wardrobe still looked empty even after putting in all his possessions.Next, he put the notebooks and the pencil case into the desk drawer. Then, for some reason, he opened one of the notebooks.The notebook was filled with random drawings. Dry trees, stray dogs, the back of Director Lee, mops, bathroom sinks, toilets, broken tiles, and more.They couldn’t be called landscapes or still lifes. Most were drawn with pencil, with some color added by cheap colored pencils, making them all look quite shabby due to the crumpled paper.Yet, they were precious to Dan.After gently stroking the cover of the notebook, Dan closed the drawer.Although the outside was shrouded in fog, the passage of time was still discernible. The fog seemed to get darker as it consumed the darkness, and soon it was pitch black.At that moment, a crimson light rose from the darkness. It seemed to be from the garden lampposts, but because of the fog, neither the shape of the lamps nor the extent of the garden was visible.Realizing it was night, Dan went to the bathroom to wash himself thoroughly, scrubbing his buttocks especially hard. Then, back in his room, he tidied up his wig.Dan put on the wig, took out the new clothes from the wardrobe, and dressed himself. He then sat upright on the bed, staring at the door.When would Taejae come?What should he say when he does?“Hello?” Or “You’re here?” Or perhaps “I’ve been waiting”?Ah, do you even need greetings for mating?But when should he undress?Should he undress and wait?With these thoughts, he was pricking up his ears towards the door.However, even late into the night, even after the short hand of the clock passed midnight, even when the sparse lamplights outside dimmed to black, no one came to Dan’s room.Knock, knock, knock.Dan, who had fallen asleep with his head buried in the bed, furrowed his brows at the noise.Knock, knock.His cheeks itched, as if ants were crawling on them. Dan scratched his face hard with his nails, and something covering his head slid off. His face felt much more comfortable.Knock, knock, knock.But the incessant noise was unavoidable. Dan twisted his body to escape the sound. Something was off; he should have felt the moldy, patchy walls against his forehead, but there was nothing touching his body. Moreover, the floor was too soft.Knock, knock, knock, knock.The noise continued, louder and sharper this time. Dan opened his eyes wide.“…”After blinking a few times, he quickly understood the situation—where he was, what he had been doing before falling asleep, and so on. Jumping up like a spring, he flung the door open.At that moment, he didn’t care who was standing outside or how he looked himself.Fortunately or unfortunately, it wasn’t Taejae but Ms. Gong standing outside. She was dressed in a similar modified hanbok as yesterday, with the same lipstick color.“I kept knocking but you didn’t come out; I thought you might have run away.”“Ah, I, I slept late… I’m sorry. I was wrong.”Dan kept bowing and apologizing. He never overslept even at the orphanage. He was baffled by how he could behave so carelessly.Would he get scolded? He would, wouldn’t he? To get scolded on the first day, to be such a mess.Dan closed his eyes tightly, waiting for a slap to his cheek. But then,“Breakfast is ready. Do you want to sleep more?”Ms. Gong said something completely unexpected. Dan asked back, thinking he might have heard wrong.“Breakfast… breakfast?”“Yes.”Dan blinked rapidly. Was she saying to come out because he had to make breakfast? To come work? No, she said “is ready,” didn’t she? Ah, not “eat,” but “is ready.” Then, she must mean to set the table.After sorting his thoughts quickly, Dan was about to respond when…“…”Ms. Gong was staring at his face. Her sharp eyes took in Dan’s pale complexion. First, she looked at his whole face, then his eyes, nose, and lips.Dan touched his cheeks, asking,“Is there… something on my face?”“…No. It’s nothing. Follow me.”Ms. Gong turned around. She didn’t seem angry about Dan oversleeping. She seemed relieved that he hadn’t run away. Or maybe she wished he had.Dan hurried after her. Like yesterday, he followed her heels and then quietly called out to her.“Um, Ms. Gong.”“Yes.”“I won’t run away. I have nowhere to go, and I’m too dumb to know the way. I’ll definitely bear the Colonel’s seed and get pregnant.”At those words, the butler’s brisk pace paused momentarily before resuming.“…I see.”With the misunderstanding cleared, Dan quietly smiled. Ms. Gong was indeed a refined person. If it had been Director Lee, he would have kicked Dan’s butt for sleeping this long. Even though she was worried he might run away, she didn’t lock the door or raise her voice.It seemed that even the servants in a rich household had a different kind of character.Dan followed Ms. Gong, rubbing his face like a cat, clearing his eye crust and wiping off the sleep marks still on his cheeks. Then, he inadvertently touched his head, only then realizing he had come out without his wig.“Oh…”Dan grimaced in self-reproach. It was a disaster. Father had strictly told him to wear the wig at all times. Should he go back to his room briefly? But that might make Ms. Gong angry this time.After some thought, Dan chose silence. As long as he didn’t meet Taejae, it was fine. The chances of a man entering the kitchen were slim enough to be negligible.The two passed by the garden, crossing through the living room. Dan glanced at the living room; the coffee Director Lee drank and the cigarette Taejae had stubbed out were completely gone.Did Father get home safely?As he was thinking this, Ms. Gong suddenly turned around to look at Dan. Did he do something wrong? Dan recoiled, expecting a scolding.“We usually have breakfast at 8.”“Yes? Oh, yes.”Ms. Gong began to list information in a flat tone. Dan perked up his ears like a rabbit.“Lunch is around 1, and dinner is around 7. Since the Colonel eats first, we eat a bit later.”“Yess.”“It can change depending on the Colonel’s schedule. If there are guests, it changes as well.”“Yes.”Dan nodded repeatedly. So, even the servants in a rich household eat three meals a day, he thought. It was a good thing. Dan could sneak some leftovers.“That means you should come to the dining room on time. I can’t come to call you for every meal.”“Yes. I won’t be late next time. I’m sorry.”Dan bowed deeply again, his thin hair moving gently with his motion. Ms. Gong watched him and then started walking again.How long did they walk? The smooth marble floor ended, and wooden flooring began. It was a wooden floor adjacent to the garden. Each step made a subtle creaking sound, which was not unpleasant.Walking with the garden on the left, they arrived at the dining room.According to Ms. Gong, this space was called a “dining room” in Western style, but in the house, it was simply referred to as the “inner tea room.” Given the name, there must be an outer tea room as well.The tea room was spacious, almost as large as the living room.There was a large table where more than ten people could sit comfortably, with chairs having white frames and red cushions. Extra chairs were placed against one wall, indicating frequent guests.The entrance where Dan stood was open to the garden without walls, and on the opposite wall hung two long swords crossing each other.Behind what was presumably Taejae’s seat at the head of the table was a large window, and on the wall he would face, there was a large moon-shaped picture made from meticulously arranged mother-of-pearl, glittering beautifully when the light came through the window.Indeed, this was a wealthy household.Dan had thought this for about the tenth time since entering the mansion.At that moment, a man appeared from a small door connected to the tea room. He had dark skin and looked to be in his fifties, as thin as Ms. Gong but taller and with a sturdier frame, making him look less frail.He was carrying a tray with food. Ms. Gong rolled up her sleeves as she headed towards the door. Beyond the door, thick steam was rising, suggesting it was the kitchen. Dan quickly followed her.“What should I do?”“You don’t need to do anything.”“But…”“…”Ms. Gong didn’t repeat herself. Once in the kitchen, she ladled soup from a pot on the stove. Dan carefully carried it outside.The dishes were spotlessly clean, clearly of high value. If he broke even one, he’d be beaten until his behind was sore, or perhaps he’d be sent away immediately. Then Director Lee would be disappointed. He might even lose his status as the ‘beloved son’. That would be unacceptable.Dan held his breath as he diligently moved the dishes.On one side of the table, side dishes were already piled up.Grilled mackerel with plump flesh, shiny anchovies cooked with lots of sugar, spinach seasoned with sesame oil, bean sprout salad with lots of sesame seeds, spicy and salty squid jeotgal, and there were three fried eggs. There was also a white soup with chunks of beef floating in it.Dan’s lips twitched slightly.They said Taejae was a cannibalistic demon, but he ate rice and fish too. If he ate like this every meal and then ate people, he must have a huge appetite. Or, considering Taejae’s size, he might eat this much easily.Just as Dan had placed the rice bowl and was about to return to the kitchen, the thin man sat at the table.Why is he sitting? Is he a guest?Dan stared at him blankly, then Ms. Gong sat next to him and said to Dan,“You sit too.”“Here?”Dan asked, thinking he might have misheard.“Yes.”Ms. Gong answered shortly.Dan realized belatedly that there were three sets of bowls and spoons. He hadn’t counted them because he was distracted by the side dishes.But he couldn’t believe it. Are they saying to eat this? The servants? And I can eat too? At such a table? Not squatting in the kitchen, mixing rice with leftover vegetables? Not scraping the burnt rice from the pot? This luxurious meal?He was more bewildered than happy due to the shock.“Isn’t this the Colonel’s meal?”“The Colonel left at dawn.”That was also surprising news.He left? At dawn? No way. I was awake until dawn. I clearly saw the fog turning pale. If he had left, I should have known…Well, the house isn’t small. There’s no way I could have heard him leave.“So, when will he return?”“Who knows. He’s hardly ever home.”Ms. Gong replied indifferently as she picked up her chopsticks. Dan’s face turned pale.He might not come back for who knows how long. Did he go to the battlefield? Wouldn’t that take months? When will I receive his seed, when will I get pregnant? When can I go back to Father? Am I supposed to wait indefinitely for someone who might not come back?“I thought he’d be home more once he became a Colonel, but he’s going to even the smallest training sessions…”