Chapter 10
“Solam…”
By the time more than half was gone, Kyunghwa and Yuran closed their books and approached Solam.
“Still only thirty percent left?”
“Yes…”
“You don’t need to make it perfect… hmm. Though, it seems you’ve already been doing that.”
Since they couldn’t really help, they had meant to just sit nearby.
Kyunghwa steadied herself with her hands, swaying slightly, while Yuran’s stomach growled like thunder.
“Sorry. I’ve never gone this long without eating. Kyunghwa, you skipped meals too, so you must feel dizzy.”
“You go ahead. I’ll finish my share and come later.”
“Sorry, Solam. You must be struggling too…”
Kyunghwa, supported by Yuran, looked almost ghostly pale.
Even her classmates, walking that short distance, kept glancing back several times before leaving.
Another hour passed.
The remaining half of her task was finally done. Solam, who had been bending over the books with her nose almost touching the pages, suddenly realized she was alone.
The dense bookshelves and the silence surrounded her completely.
The faint evening lamp swept softly across the brush she had been using.
Solam stared quietly at the flickering shadows, letting out a heavy sigh.
Her neck was stiff, and her wrists and hands were tingling from holding the brush for so long. Her emaciated stomach, shrunk from starvation, clung to her back.
“They say that once you enroll, they feed you, provide lodging… and even give money to maintain the dignity befitting your reputation.”
Ah. How firmly she had believed the words of the traveling peddler. Solam hugged her empty stomach and collapsed onto the desk.
As she sat there dazed, even her eyelids felt heavy.
It was at that moment she was about to give in completely.
“Hey.”
With a short voice, two books suddenly dropped from above.
Good heavens!
Solam, who had been slouched like a deflated cabbage, startled and lifted her head.
“Did you just see a ghost?”
The man, nodding subtly, was Unhyuk.
His pale face and perfectly proportioned features were both proud and beautiful, more so than any woman’s. Could he really be a ghost?
Solam swallowed hard and looked up at him in disbelief. Then Unhyuk opened the books himself.
They were scriptures copied to the very end in a slightly different handwriting.
“Take one.”
“Huh? This… did Lord Baek write this himself?”
“Yeah. Two hands, after all.”
He answered faintly, as if it were no big deal.
Meanwhile, Solam couldn’t hide her awe.
“Wow, wow! Truly, human skill…”
She stopped herself mid-praise, realizing her thoughts had slipped out.
Her large eyes were still filled with admiration.
Her pale face had smudges of ink, almost like a fire-blackened hearth. Even her eyelids looked bruised, giving her a slightly rough appearance.
Watching her, Unhyuk couldn’t help but laugh.
“This is strange.”
Muttering to himself, he handed the book written with his left hand to her.
“Let’s stop and go eat.”
When Solam just stared at the book, Unhyuk stacked his book on top of hers.
Only then did the woman respond.
“Why would Lord Baek give me the characters he painstakingly wrote?”
“I didn’t painstakingly write them. Also, are you going to keep calling me that?”
Was the title “Lord Baek” wrong?
Tilting her head, Solam paused to consider a proper way to address him.
Since she and Kyunghwa and Yuran had agreed to be like sisters…
“Brother Unhyuk?”
Her innocent eyes looked up at him.
Her face gradually flushed like a ripe peach, but Unhyuk immediately turned his head away.
He pressed gently on his racing chest.
Perhaps due to hunger, both his body and mind were acting strangely.
Solam was indeed an unusual child.
Ever since she had jumped into the pond, he had been drawn to her, curious as if she were from another world.
Though he had normally quarreled with her, now he found it difficult to meet her gaze.
“I appreciate it, but I cannot accept it.”
“Why not?”
He asked, standing with his back turned. Then her clear voice, like rolling jade beads, replied.
“Doctor Jang said that anyone who helps me write would be punished doubly.”
“It’s just the two of us here; who would know?”
“Even so… my conscience won’t allow it!”
“Innocent, aren’t you?”
Unhyuk clicked his tongue lightly and retrieved his things.
“Don’t regret it.”
Glancing sideways, Solam nodded.
Contrary to his words, he felt lingering attachment.
He walked forward, then stopped several times. Even after reaching the door, he sighed deeply.
Eventually, Unhyuk returned and stood before Solam.
“It’ll be cold if you stay until dawn. I’d hate for you to blame me if you catch a cold.”
Invoking a sense of comradery, he offered Solam his coat. Then, before she could refuse, he quickly left.
The coat smelled faintly of licorice.
Once he was gone, Solam was truly alone. Her throat was dry, her stomach hungry, and she felt lonely.
She used the last of her strength to continue writing diligently.
“All done!”
Solam finally stretched with relief.
It had taken a full five hours.
She had started before the sun reached its zenith, and now evening had long passed.
Cradling the finished book, she slowly got up.
As she pushed open the large study door, a night breeze rushed through.
Ah. How long had it been since she felt fresh air!
She inhaled deeply, opening the door fully. Though her body was tired, her heart felt light.
That was until she ran into an unexpected guest.
“M-m-m-master…?”
Meeting Cheongyeon waiting outside the study, Solam was led to the dining kitchen.
She hesitated at the long table, looking up at him nervously.
Suddenly, he brought her a raw egg and held it out.
Not knowing his intention, Solam took it and stared at it blankly.
“…”
“…”
The problem was his intimidating gaze. Being watched, she felt she had to do something.
Tense, Solam cracked the egg and swallowed it at once.
The man’s face showed clear surprise.
“You’re supposed to rub it around your eyes.”
“Ah…!”
Following his instruction, she awkwardly rubbed the egg on her eyelids. Being her first time, it felt very unnatural.
Cheongyeon finally helped her, rolling the egg around her eyes gently.
Opening one eye to peek at her crumpled brow, Solam closed both eyes fully again.
Like when he had wrapped her injured hand, his touch was delicate and gentle—but she could not fully relax.
Cheongyeon was Solam’s number one cautious person.
“Nak… no, M-m-master…”
She summoned courage and spoke.
Holding something carefully in her hands under her clothes.
“I… I want to give you something.”
Upon hearing her, Cheongyeon immediately stopped moving.
Solam raised her trembling eyelids.
Her clear, lake-like eyes met his cold face.
Cheongyeon, surprised, stepped back.
They were uncomfortably close.
“Something to give…”
She recalled the gate incident she had done impulsively.
Her stiff shoulders were weighed down by tension.
Fortunately, she did not act wildly like last time. Instead, she took out an envelope from her clothes.
“I, Solam, have reflected earnestly after listening to your words!”
Cheongyeon silently accepted the reflection letter she handed with both hands.
Without opening it, he immediately put it into his sleeve. Solam watched him intently, eyes wide.
Was the jade token taken too? When would he return it?
Her mind was consumed with thoughts of the benefactor’s jade token.
“Well… then…”
“Was the study cold?”
Cheongyeon casually asked, looking at Unhyuk’s loose coat.
“Huh?”
Solam froze, feeling the cold gaze that almost reminded her of being scolded.
“Oh, nothing.”
Fearing he might scold her for wearing someone else’s coat, she quickly removed it.
Without a word, Cheongyeon turned and picked up the shining knife from the cutting board.
