Chapter 31: A Cage of Blood and Wings

Morning broke, and Ham-an-daek came to my room with a doctor employed by the estate.

Before the meal, the doctor briefly examined my condition and began listing the future schedule.

“Blood will be drawn once a week, four times a month.”

“Is that really enough?”

At my question, the doctor frowned.

From his expression, I could tell that the frequent bloodletting I used to undergo wasn’t exactly a good method.

“Outside of the scheduled blood draws, you may spend your time freely. However, if you need to go out or have business in the main house, you must inform me in advance.”

After the doctor left, Ham-an-daek began listing precautions as if it were a nuisance.

She spoke as though it didn’t matter as long as I told her, but judging by her attitude, I knew that wasn’t true at all.

“Alright.”

There was nothing for me to do outside anyway, and no one to meet in the main house.

Ham-an-daek handed me breakfast and immediately left the room.

Today, it was rice.

“So yesterday really was just spite.”

The glossy white rice felt unfamiliar.

As I chewed the savory grains, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had become livestock being well-fed.

After all, as long as my father received blood on time, he wouldn’t care whether I existed or not.

And with the servants who disliked me watching constantly, I was no different from cattle.

So the only thing I, with nothing to do, could think about was how to send Gyesa away.

“Gyesa is stubborn.”

Do you know how hard it was for me to finally decide to leave you?

I know well that he wishes for my freedom and safety.

It would be a lie if I said I didn’t feel happy about that.

But I didn’t want to hold him back anymore.

It was the freedom he had longed for his entire life since joining the circus.

“Idiot.”

Yet in the end, he broke his wings for me.

“Is there no way… to give you your wings back…?”

I clenched both fists tightly.

For now, it might seem cruel to him.

He might think I’m ignoring his feelings.

But this is the only way to protect him.

If Father attached him to me to test and monitor our relationship…

Then someday, danger would reach him too.

And even if I die, I cannot stand by and watch that happen.

I stuffed the rice I had been glaring at like an enemy into my mouth.

The setting sun dyed the world red, as if it would burn everything down.

As Gyesa stared at the unreal scenery for a moment, someone tapped his shoulder.

A large man grinned, showing his yellow teeth.

“Hey, nervous?”

Though the man asked casually, Gyesa only looked at the crimson sky.

Despite his cold attitude, the man kept chuckling mockingly.

“Don’t worry too much. Sure, you might get a few cuts on that pretty face… but hey, they’ll be scars of honor, right? And once you get used to it, you can even pocket some for yourself.”

The man spun a folding knife in his hand arrogantly.

His name was Gisun, and he found Gyesa’s silence amusing.

‘Looks like a naive pretty boy, but let’s see…’

No matter how he looked at him, Gyesa didn’t seem like someone who would go around extorting protection money.

Gisun just wanted to see that calm, handsome face twist in fear.

“Want to know the worst thing I’ve seen doing this job? There was this guy I used to work with—Takemura. Must’ve been about ten years ago, before liberation. He didn’t have money to go back to Japan, so he worked under our boss for a while. Funny guy, really. Acting all proud when he was broke and working for others. Said it hurt his pride to do grunt work under Koreans.”

Gisun slung his thick arm over Gyesa’s shoulder.

Gyesa glanced at him briefly.

Encouraged by the reaction, Gisun spoke louder.

“So he started acting stubborn, shouting ‘I won’t follow a Joseon man’s orders!’ You know what our boss did?”

Finally interested, huh?

Gisun exaggerated his gestures dramatically.

“With one swing—snip. Cut it off.”

Gyesa stared silently.

Gisun burst into laughter and slapped his back.

“What do you think he cut? That stupid pride pouch of his. Yeah—his balls.”

Gyesa turned his head away again.

But Gisun, now fully immersed in his story, kept talking anyway.

“Blood pouring between his legs, screaming his lungs out—and our boss just said, ‘Not even fit for dog food.’ Damn, it was terrifying. Made my own balls shake.”

Gisun shuddered at the memory.

The others nearby seemed bored, having heard the story too many times.

“Anyway, it gets funnier. That Takemura later reported our boss to the police—but he’s the one who disappeared. Idiot didn’t even know the boss had connections.”

Gisun trembled slightly as he continued.

“Funny, right? Anyway, that’s the worst thing I’ve seen. You’ll see plenty of nasty stuff doing this job… but the worst thing is falling out of the boss’s favor. He may look like a businessman now, but roots don’t change.”

“What roots?”

For the first time, Gyesa spoke.

Gisun lit up with excitement.

“What else? A lowlife thug. Started as a lackey and made it this far.”

“Hey, Gisun. You’re talking too much.”

Another man stepped in to stop him.

Then he approached Gyesa and warned him harshly.

“Even if Gisun talks too much… he’s not entirely wrong. If you want to live long, pretend you don’t know—even if you hear it.”

Gyesa smirked.

“If I can hear it, how am I supposed to pretend I didn’t? And if I know something, I should use it. Idiots…”

“What?”

The atmosphere instantly turned hostile.

The men surrounded him.

“What did you just say?”

Gyesa looked at them coldly.

“Idiots. That’s why you’re stuck doing this kind of work, worrying about getting your balls cut off.”

At his mockery, Gisun clenched his teeth and stepped forward.

“Oh? And what makes you so noble, running around with us for pocket change?”

Gyesa laughed.

“You think I came here for scraps like you?”

Another man snapped.

“Then what, you here to get fucked? Want us to do you the favor?”

Laughter erupted.

“Pretty face, but still a guy. Got a hole, don’t you?”

“Can’t be worse than a woman!”

Gyesa sighed and turned away.

“You bastard—where do you think you’re going—! Ugh!”

Bang!

A gunshot rang out behind him, and Gisun collapsed.

“Hyung!”

Gyesa turned to see a middle-aged man approaching.

Dressed in a black coat and hat, he held a gun steadily.

Clicking his tongue, he fired again—at everyone except Gyesa.

Bang!

Bang!

Bodies dropped one by one, with no chance to escape.

The mouths that had mocked him were forever silenced.

The smell of blood filled the air.

As Gyesa stood stunned among the corpses, the man spoke coldly.

“Boss’s orders. No need to keep a dog that tries to bite its master.”

Gyesa steadied his pounding heart.

‘Is this… a warning to me?’

He clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms.

“Clean it up.”

At Yeongho’s command, men in black began removing the bodies.

“The boss is waiting.”

Gyesa bit his lower lip and followed him into the car.

Inside, Jipyeong sat calmly, lighting a cigarette as if unaware of what had just happened.

“Let’s go.”

Smoke drifted out the window.

Jipyeong offered him a cigarette.

“Want one?”

After a moment of hesitation, Gyesa accepted it.

Back in the circus, he never smoked to protect his voice.

But now, it didn’t matter.

“Cough…”

The first drag burned harshly.

He forced himself to take another, suppressing the cough.

It hurt his chest at first, but gradually, he grew used to it.

“Once you get used to it, there’s nothing like it.”

Jipyeong said casually.

Gyesa didn’t quite understand—but it didn’t matter.

“Why did you call me here? You didn’t need to show me an example like this. I have no intention of rebelling.”

At his question, Jipyeong fell silent for a moment before speaking.

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