Chapter 44: A Hand No Longer Needed

In contrast, Song Seol appeared completely at ease.

His wrist sprain should have almost healed by now, yet it was unclear why he still continued to borrow Hae-min’s hand.

“Every time I see it, your speed is astonishing.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I would believe it if someone said you were born to work.”

“…”

It was hard to tell whether that was praise or an insult.

In this situation, it leaned more toward the latter, yet it did not feel unpleasant.

It was simply that the current circumstances were absurd.

‘Of course my working speed is fast.’

What he was doing now was nearly identical to the work he had done in the past.

From Hae-min’s perspective, it was merely repetition, so there was nothing particularly difficult about it.

“I’m only lending a small hand with your work, my lord.”

“You are humble.”

“Yes…”

With that awkward reply, the conversation came to an end.

Song Seol seemed to immerse himself in his own work as well.

Scratch, swish.

Only the sound of brush against paper filled the room, and from time to time, his gaze brushed against Hae-min’s cheek.

Song Seol’s eyes were darker than ink, as though they would leave a mark wherever they touched.

After a while, Song Seol rose from his seat.

He approached Hae-min and handed him a document.

“I’ll leave the verification to you.”

“Yes.”

Song Seol, who assigned tasks as if it were only natural, was amusing, and even more so was Hae-min, who accepted them just as naturally.

In any case, until Song Seol’s right wrist fully recovered, he had no choice but to assist him.

Moon Hae-min picked up the abacus placed on one side of the desk.

“After you finish verifying it…”

Song Seol trailed off.

For some reason, he seemed lost in thought, his brow slightly furrowed.

“My lord?”

“…Hand it over to Seong-hyuk.”

“Yes, understood.”

Though Seong-hyuk often appeared carefree, he was, in truth, a capable official who fulfilled his duties well.

(There were even envious rumors that his grandfather had bought his position with money.)

It was nothing new, yet today, that fact felt oddly remarkable.

“After delivering the documents to Seong-hyuk, return to the office immediately.”

“Yes.”

“And do not get distracted.”

“…Yes.”

Though he answered obediently, a quiet sense of rebellion began to rise within Hae-min.

He already spent nearly all his waking hours beside Song Seol, and dissatisfaction had been building up.

Being worked like an ox was one thing.

‘But not even allowing me the slightest moment to breathe is too much, isn’t it?’

Whether aware of his thoughts or not, Song Seol added,

“Normally, I would have accompanied you, but I must step out shortly…”

“Are you going out?”

“Yes, but it won’t take long.”

“I see.”

He had asked without any particular meaning, nor was he truly curious.

Since it did not seem important, Song Seol offered no further explanation.

Breaking the natural silence that settled between them, the clicking of abacus beads began to sound.

After finishing the verification, Moon Hae-min stepped out of the office.

Just then, Seong-hyuk was passing through the wooden hall.

“Young Master Moon!”

Upon spotting him, Seong-hyuk approached with visible delight.

His strides were long and brisk.

“What brings you here?”

“I have some documents to deliver.”

“Ah, I didn’t mean that. I meant, why are you alone today?”

Moon Hae-min blinked.

Having always lived alone, he could not understand the question.

Wasn’t it natural to be alone? Did one have to be with someone?

“Weren’t you always with His Highness, Grand Prince Byeokran?”

Seong-hyuk added an explanation.

Only then did Hae-min let out a small exclamation of realization.

“My lord has gone out. Besides, recently has been the exception, I am not particularly close to him.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Though he clearly did not believe it, he spoke as if he would humor him.

It seemed he thought Hae-min was simply being shy.

“I truly mean it.”

“Why deny it so firmly? You both seemed quite close.”

“What part of His Highness and me made you think such a thing? Close, you say…”

Just uttering the word “close” made his stomach churn, and he could not continue.

Meanwhile, Seong-hyuk spoke casually.

“You are always together, like a pair of geese, from the moment you arrive at the office to the moment you leave. There are even widespread stories that you remain together in the office all day.”

“St-Stories have spread?”

“Well… calling them rumors is not quite right. Anyone working in this Songdo Provincial Office naturally comes to know it. It’s not as if someone deliberately spread it.”

“…”

Moon Hae-min rubbed his face dryly.

He did not know where things had gone wrong, but something had clearly become terribly entangled.

“It’s a misunderstanding…”

He barely managed to force out the words.

“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes. It’s a bit embarrassing, but… my lord injured his right wrist because of me. So I am only helping him temporarily.”

‘Only until he fully recovers,’ Hae-min emphasized again.

At that, Seong-hyuk nodded.

“Ah…”

“Now you understand the situation, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Relief washed over Hae-min.

Surely now the troublesome misunderstanding would be cleared up.

But that relief was short-lived.

“Now that I know the situation, it makes your bond seem even deeper.”

“What? How does that make any sense?”

“To worry over His Highness just because he injured his right wrist a little….”

Goodness, to worry about that person of all people…

Seong-hyuk muttered in sincere admiration.

At this point, Hae-min felt his strength drain away.

“I am well aware that His Highness is strong. But what could I do? He insisted on using me as his right hand…”

“Ah, that’s not the part that surprised me.”

“Then what is?”

Seong-hyuk spoke as though he could not believe Hae-min did not know.

“His Highness is ambidextrous, isn’t he? And he even favors his left hand.”

****

Not long after, Song Seol returned.

Seated in the office, Moon Hae-min sharply lifted his head at the sound of the door sliding open.

His gaze was rather fierce.

“…”

Song Seol’s thick brows twitched slightly, but that was all.

Hae-min’s defiance seemed to mean nothing to him.

‘Of course it wouldn’t.’

How amusing it must have been.

Watching him fret without even knowing he was ambidextrous.

Thinking back, Song Seol had never once claimed to be right-handed.

So technically, he had not deceived him…

Yet for some reason, it felt as though he had been thoroughly tricked.

In truth, what was deception if not causing someone to misunderstand for one’s own benefit?

By that logic, Song Seol had indeed deceived him.

The fact that he had been fooled so completely felt both frustrating and embarrassing.

Anger rose within him, and Hae-min exhaled sharply.

“What is the matter?”

As his emotions stirred, so did his scent.

The plum blossom fragrance he had carefully suppressed began to waver and spread.

There was no way Song Seol would not notice it.

“I asked what the matter is, Moon Hee-yul.”

“My lord, are you perhaps ambidextrous?”

He needed to confirm the truth first.

When he asked cautiously, Song Seol answered readily.

“That’s correct.”

“What-!”

Even if he had denied it, Hae-min might not have believed him, but this easy admission was far more irritating.

To make matters worse, Song Seol shamelessly asked,

“Is there a problem with me being ambidextrous?”

“It’s not a problem. But my lord, what did you tell me? You said you could not use your right hand for a while, so you would borrow mine.”

“Yes, I did say that.”

“But in truth, you had no need to borrow my hand at all, did you?”

Song Seol tilted his head slightly.

“That is not the case. Even if one is ambidextrous, injuring one hand still makes daily life inconvenient.”

“…”

There was logic in that.

Even for Hae-min, who was right-handed, injuring his left hand would still be inconvenient.

It would simply be less troublesome than injuring his right.

So Song Seol’s reasoning was not entirely wrong, but…

‘No, the problem is that embarrassing rumors have already spread throughout the office.’

Hae-min steadied his briefly wavering resolve.

Recalling the dissatisfaction that had built up, he spoke sharply.

“Regardless, there was no need for me to become your right hand.”

“So that is what upset you.”

As if finally understanding, Song Seol suggested,

“Then from now on, I shall call you my right hand and left hand.”

“…”

“Or perhaps I should simply call you my limbs.”

“Please do not mock me.”

Hae-min replied curtly.

Being deceived was unpleasant enough, but being treated like a child who was easy to tease was even worse.

Perhaps even Song Seol felt he had gone too far, as he softened his tone.

“First, compose your scent. One should not spread such fragrance within the Provincial Office.”

“Yes, I will. However, my lord.”

“Speak.”

“I apologize, but I can no longer carry out the tasks you have given me.”

Song Seol gazed at Moon Hae-min in silence.

There was no reproach, yet an inexplicable pressure filled the air.

“For what reason?”

“Because there is no longer any reason for me to assist you. I hold no official position, nor have I even passed the civil examination. From the beginning, it is improper for me to involve myself in state affairs.”

“Hmm.”

“I wish to live according to what is proper.”

With a solemn expression, Moon Hae-min concluded his words.

Even to himself, it sounded like a reasonable excuse.

If he invoked the laws of the state, even a Grand Prince would not be able to act recklessly.

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