Chapter 36: Blood, Smoke, and Orders

“Aaah!”

It was Eunjo.

Snapping back to his senses at her scream, Gyesa turned toward where the shop had been.

Mr. Kim lay sprawled beneath debris, and beside him, Eunjo had collapsed, blood streaming from her head.

Only then did I come to my senses—me, who had been cowardly, hiding safely in Gyesa’s solid embrace.

“No…”

I pushed against his chest with both hands.

“You—”

“We have to get her!”

“What are you saying?”

“She has to survive. Only then can both you and I live. Hurry!”

At my insistence, Gyesa clenched his teeth.

His eyes trembled as he looked at me for a moment, then he turned and ran straight into the flames.

I engraved his retreating figure into my eyes.

My wildly pounding heart suddenly dropped, cold and heavy.

As if nothing had happened, everything settled.

My dizzy thoughts cleared, my breathing steadied, and even the noise in my ears became sharp again.

“Gyesa!”

“Miss, this way!”

Eunjo cried out as Gyesa lifted her and ran.

‘Get a grip.’

I staggered to my feet.

I had to get somewhere safe.

Gyesa carried Eunjo far from the burning shop.

Looking back, Mr. Kim showed no sign of survival.

Whether fortunate or not, it seemed he had died instantly when the debris struck his head.

“Ah!”

Someone running crashed into my shoulder.

I fell hard onto the ground.

“Ugh!”

Another person stepped on my hand as they fled.

The pain was unbearable, but staying down would only make things worse.

I gritted my teeth and forced myself up, running with the crowd.

“Aedong!”

I heard my name through the chaos.

Turning, I saw Gyesa trying to come toward me.

But Eunjo, trembling, clutched his pant leg.

He was trapped—unable to move.

“I’ll see you at the estate!”

I shouted.

I didn’t know if he heard me.

Soon, he disappeared into the crowd.

I endured, swept along by the chaos.

Only when firefighters arrived and began dousing the flames did the street gradually calm.

Thankfully, I made it back to the estate before sunset.

But I was in terrible shape.

Servants rushed about the annex—it seemed Gyesa and Eunjo had returned earlier.

Even Ham-an-daek, who disliked me, hurried in with bathwater and medicine.

“Oh dear, what a disaster.”

“Is Miss Eunjo alright?”

At my question, she sighed heavily.

“I don’t know. She was already weak, and she lost so much blood… And Mr. Kim…”

She glanced at me cautiously.

So I hadn’t imagined it.

He had died on the spot.

“And the doctor says… she may need a transfusion.”

“I understand.”

I was worried about Eunjo.

And Gyesa too.

It had all started from her stubbornness—but she had only wanted to pick clothes and eat something nice with me.

And Gyesa… had only done his duty.

“Ha…”

My left hand was swollen.

It didn’t seem broken, thankfully.

At least it wasn’t my dominant hand.

“I will come in now, miss.”

The doctor soon arrived.

Sweat dripped from his forehead—he must have been busy treating Eunjo.

He reached for my left hand, then frowned at its condition.

“It was stepped on. I think it’s sprained…”

“Then I’ll draw blood from your right arm for now. I’ll examine your left hand later.”

“Yes. I can endure it.”

He waited anxiously as my blood was drawn.

Then he rushed out immediately.

Only then did I collapse onto the bed, exhaling shakily.

The room was silent.

Yet my mind was in chaos.

Why had I felt such fear earlier?

Even when I witnessed Obaltan’s death, I hadn’t felt like that.

Maybe it was just the shock…

Or perhaps—

A strange thought crossed my mind.

What if the dead man had warned me?

“Ha…”

Was Gyesa alright?

He had seemed uninjured, but still…

He had shielded me.

He had run into the flames.

I wanted to go check on him immediately.

But all I could do was wait.

How long had I been waiting, clutching my swollen hand?

After night fell and dinner passed, the exhausted doctor returned.

“Is she alright?”

He nodded weakly.

He looked completely drained.

“I’ll set a splint and wrap it. I forgot the medicine… I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

“That’s fine. I can endure it.”

“It doesn’t seem broken. I’ll give you a painkiller.”

After treating me, he left unsteadily, nearly colliding with Deokchun at the door.

“Miss, the master wishes to see you.”

What a long day.

I got up and followed him.

He glanced at my bandaged hand but said nothing.

The reception room felt darker than usual.

Father and Gyesa were already there.

My eyes went straight to Gyesa.

He had changed clothes, and outwardly, he looked unharmed.

“Sit.”

I sat across from Father, beside Gyesa.

I could feel his gaze on my injured hand.

But Father showed no interest.

He rubbed his brow.

“I’ve received the report. There was an incident.”

“Yes.”

“First…”

He trailed off, stood up, and walked over to Gyesa.

Then—

Without warning, he struck him hard across the face.

“What—!”

I tried to stand, but Gyesa stopped me.

My eyes widened in shock.

Father returned to his seat calmly.

“My daughter was injured. There must be punishment.”

“But it was an accident.”

“In the end, Eunjo was hurt. She is bedridden.”

“I apologize.”

Gyesa bowed his head.

Silence fell.

I clenched my skirt tightly.

Father exhaled smoke and muttered—

“But it’s not entirely bad.”

“……”

“It’s unfortunate Mr. Kim died. But thanks to that, we may catch the rat. I can crush Daejin Steel’s arrogance.”

“What do you mean?”

He smirked.

“It wasn’t an accident. A servant died, and my daughter was injured. Even the police had no choice but to share information.”

There was no trace of sorrow on his face.

“This was planned—from the moment news of Eunjo’s outing leaked.”

“But that was only decided this morning…”

“If you want someone dead, time doesn’t matter. They would have kept trying.”

So it wasn’t an accident.

What kind of world does this man live in?

“More importantly, a rat is hiding nearby. Annoying… troublesome.”

He tapped his foot, lost in thought.

“What will you do?”

Gyesa asked.

Father looked at him and spoke—

“We catch it.”

He crushed his cigarette into the table and took a sip of coffee.

“Gyesa. You will catch the rat. No matter who it is, where they are.”

His voice turned cold.

“Prove your loyalty… or lie beside them.”

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