Chapter 14: A Capable Person

“Can’t think of anything?”

Song Seol asked again. Only then did Moon Hae-min snap out of his wandering thoughts.

“…No.”

“I see. Well, it’s good that there’s nothing you can’t eat.”

“Yes.”

Hae-min picked up a side dish placed near his bowl of rice. He didn’t even consider reaching for the dishes set farther away. His appetite simply wasn’t strong enough to eat actively.

“You said there’s nothing you can’t eat, yet you hardly seem to be eating.”

Only then did Hae-min realize that Song Seol had been watching the movement of his chopsticks.

“I am eating.”

“Even though you’ve only been eating spinach?”

“So spinach must secretly be your favorite food,” Song Seol murmured.

Taking the hint, Hae-min picked up a piece of braised lotus root.

“Eat this as well.”

Rolling up his sleeve slightly, Song Seol pushed a bowl toward Hae-min.

It was steamed gulbi, salted yellow corvina, a delicacy.

“Thank you,” Hae-min said quietly.

“…”

He had accepted it, but he had no idea how to eat it. Not only had he never eaten gulbi before, he had never even seen it up close.

But since Song Seol had offered it, he couldn’t refuse.

‘Besides, it would be strange if Moon Hee-yul, the eldest grandson of a prestigious family, had never eaten gulbi.’

In the end, Hae-min poked the fish with his chopsticks.

Even that was enough for the tender flesh to crumble apart.

He tried a bite. It was delicious, but continuing to eat it was troublesome.

He was afraid Song Seol might notice that he wasn’t skilled at picking out the bones.

So Hae-min moved his chopsticks toward the other side dishes instead.

“My lord.”

It seemed about time to bring up what he needed to say.

When he spoke carefully, Song Seol gestured with his eyes for him to continue.

“I apologize, but I can no longer continue the work you assigned me.”

Clack.

Song Seol set his chopsticks down.

He had already seemed somewhat down today, had Hae-min brought up the wrong topic at the wrong moment? Regret came too late.

“Why? Is it because the work is too much?”

“No.”

“Then is it too difficult?”

“That’s not it either. I’m simply afraid of doing work that is beyond my station.”

“Afraid? What do you mean?”

“…I’m just afraid.”

Hae-min lowered his gaze and mumbled vaguely.

Song Seol said nothing.

Whether he believed such a weak excuse or not, Hae-min had no intention of changing his decision. It would be a lie to say he felt no regret, but there were things in this world that must not be done, no matter how tempting.

“Hm.”

Song Seol made a low sound in his throat.

Then he said something unexpected.

“Today, a ship was damaged.”

“…Pardon?”

Hae-min looked up again.

“Which ship do you mean? Surely… not the one I boarded four days ago?”

“That one. The ship carrying exchange goods to Geum-o Kingdom was damaged in the waters before Yeseong Port.”

“But how could such a sturdy ship be damaged?”

Even someone like Hae-min, who knew little about ships, had thought it looked quite solid. It was large and capable of carrying an enormous amount of cargo without difficulty. And when he had boarded it, it had been perfectly fine.

“It struck sand.”

“Ah…”

“It isn’t extremely common, but neither is it rare.”

Still, it wasn’t something that could simply be dismissed as unavoidable.

So this must be the reason Song Seol seemed down today.

“My lord… but how can sand damage a ship? It wasn’t even rocks.”

“Sand that accumulates in deep water is harder than you might think. Near the coast, sand can be more dangerous than reefs. The position of reefs does not change, so they can be avoided, but sand does. Even guiding ships with a jihaeseon has its limits.”

“I see…”

“So sometimes a ship crashes into a sandbank before the captain even realizes it. As happened this time.”

Unconsciously parting his lips, Hae-min nodded slowly.

He had imagined ordinary sand like the kind scattered on roads, but apparently it was quite different.

Hearing this, it truly sounded like a disaster.

“Are the sailors safe?”

“Unfortunately not. Twelve men lost their lives. Fortunately, the accident happened near the harbor, so most of them were rescued.”

“…Ah.”

Hae-min let out a quiet sigh.

Twelve lives lost, nothing could be more tragic.

“The loss of goods is also severe.”

“Did all the cargo sink into the sea?”

“Some were recovered. But some were damaged.”

That too was disheartening.

Hae-min knew exactly what had been loaded on the ship, ginseng, porcelain, silk. All precious goods.

If someone like Hae-min obtained even a single one of them, he could probably live comfortably for anywhere from a month to ten years.

“Furthermore, those were the exchange goods meant for Geum-o Kingdom, so the situation is complicated in many ways.”

“I can imagine.”

They would have to renegotiate schedules between the nations immediately.

Even though it had nothing to do with him, just imagining the process made Hae-min’s head ache.

“You must be very busy for a while, my lord.”

“Perhaps.”

Song Seol answered indifferently, as though it were someone else’s problem.

Then he looked directly at Hae-min.

In the dim evening light, his dark gaze pierced Hae-min like an arrow.

“That is why I do not wish to lose a capable person right now.”

“…”

“I would prefer it if you continued your work. Do you truly intend to quit?”

Hae-min’s stomach churned.

Not because of indigestion like before.

But because of those words…

A capable person.

Those words tempted him more strongly than anything in the world.

Even though he knew he shouldn’t, he wanted to agree immediately.

But Hae-min clung to the last thread of reason.

“I’m sorry, my lord… but I feel ashamed to do work that does not suit someone of my standing.”

“Your standing?”

Song Seol cut him off.

“And who decided that?”

“Well…”

“A person’s standing is not determined by themselves alone. Others judge it as well. And I do not consider your standing to be so low.”

That was only because Song Seol did not know his true identity.

Even if his mouth were torn open, Hae-min could never say such a thing.

So he remained silent.

“You seem clever, yet strangely foolish in certain matters.”

“…”

“If that question is difficult, let me ask another. Moon Hee-yul, between you and me, whose rank is higher?”

“Yours, my lord.”

“Then is it not reasonable that my judgment should be correct?”

Strictly speaking, that wasn’t true.

Right and wrong were not determined by rank.

But the words of someone of higher status carried authority, so in that sense, Song Seol’s words could be considered correct.

“I will not force you to work. But if that is your reason for quitting, then you should reconsider.”

For Hae-min, it was a predicament.

He had decided to quit, but now he could not.

But…

Even in this situation, instead of disappointment, a subtle joy rose within him.

Realizing this, Hae-min swallowed a sigh.

It seemed he had a talent for choosing exactly the things he shouldn’t do.

Or perhaps he was simply reckless.

“I understand.”

Hae-min added more firmly,

“I will continue assisting you, my lord.”

“Good.”

Song Seol nodded.

He picked up his chopsticks again, and the meal that had paused resumed.

Hae-min also lifted his chopsticks and ate some spinach.

Although the food had grown cold in the winter air, it somehow tasted better than before.

Encouraged, he tried again to pick apart the gulbi.

A piece of white flesh came loose.

Carefully so the fish would not crumble, Hae-min lifted it with his chopsticks and placed it on his spoon before eating.

“…”

The lightly seasoned fish melted in his mouth.

It was an unfamiliar taste, yet a delicacy.

****

From that day on, Moon Hae-min continued doing the tasks Song Seol assigned.

The nature of the work remained the same as before, but the amount doubled. The importance of the tasks also increased, forcing him to be extremely careful lest he make a mistake.

Working so diligently meant he naturally met Song Seol more often.

But it wasn’t only because of work.

Song Seol called for Hae-min frequently for other reasons as well.

Sometimes they shared meals.

Sometimes they chatted about trivial matters.

Sometimes Song Seol gave him gifts in appreciation of his efforts.

…and sometimes it was for more intimate reasons.

Hae-min did not enjoy those encounters.

Each time he shared a bed with Song Seol, he felt pain, embarrassment, and the urge to hide somewhere.

Yet despite his feelings, his body gradually grew accustomed to it.

Now he no longer hated it quite as strongly as before.

The only real problem was that Song Seol showed no sign of sending “Moon Hee-yul” back.

But that day would come eventually.

If he waited patiently.

Holding on to that hope, Moon Hae-min endured the long winter.

****

Ten days before the New Year, Song Seol departed for Hanseong.

He went to pay his respects to the king and attend ceremonial rites.

Without him, the residence felt quiet, like a snowy night.

It had always been a peaceful place without much noise, but now it felt almost eerily still.

For Hae-min, however, it was strangely comfortable.

Like a traveler hiding in the shadows to rest for a moment, he allowed himself a rare, peaceful respite.