Chapter 8: Words That Shouldn’t Be Shared

I wanted to say that it wasn’t as a servant but as an adopted child, but I held my tongue, worried I’d only hear something unpleasant again.

Obaltan muttered to himself, wavering back and forth, then seemed to give up on overthinking it and nodded as if roughly convinced.

“Alright, alright. That Gyesa brat probably handled it well on his own. Unlike you, he’s got a crafty side… whether he charms the madam with that pretty face or with that sly silver tongue….”

“Hmph—! Don’t talk badly about Gyesa.”

I smacked Obaltan’s sturdy arm as he slipped in those digs, flaring up in anger.

He looked flustered, as if he’d just realized his mistake, and could only stare down at me awkwardly, unable to calm me.

I didn’t realize then how dangerous it was for me to be walking around so distracted like this.

“Whoa—!”

Sure enough.

While limping along and waving both hands at Obaltan, my body tilted sideways.

Obaltan’s remaining eye widened as he hurriedly reached out to grab my arm, but my already-leaning body slipped past his grasp.

“What are you doing.”

The one who caught me and steadied my body was Gyesa.

“Gyesa!”

Happy to see him, I beamed, cheeks lifting as Gyesa held my arm from behind and set me upright.

Obaltan pulled his hand back sheepishly and clicked his tongue in mild annoyance.

“Well, look at that. Baby’s husband has arrived.”

“Sir!”

My cheeks flushed peach-red at his teasing.

Why did that man keep saying things like that.

Though I hadn’t done anything wrong, last night suddenly came to mind, making my lips twitch.

Seeing that, Gyesa ruffled my hair and scolded lightly.

“At this rate, your chattering could carry over mountains.”

“Am I that loud.”

“Yeah.”

He poked my cheek.

And didn’t stop there—Gyesa even kneaded the cheek he’d poked, utterly without shame.

“Don’t tease the kid too much either. She can barely take care of herself—what if she falls again.”

“Alright, alright. How’s a lonely old man supposed to live without sorrow.”

“Old man, my foot. You still split firewood with both hands. If you’re going to talk nonsense, go help those real old men up ahead.”

“Tsk, listen to that brat’s mouth—already rotten to the core. I’m going, I’m going. You chicks just keep up like good little ducklings.”

Grumbling, Obaltan scratched the back of his head and walked ahead.

Even then, Gyesa didn’t withdraw the hand cupping my cheek.

By the time my face had practically turned into a well-roasted sweet potato in his palm, Gyesa turned his head back toward me after watching Obaltan recede into the distance.

His brows were knit, as if something displeased him.

“What’s wrong.”

Gyesa didn’t answer right away.

Instead, his eyes followed my face, then the backs of the circus members walking ahead.

Only after the group had moved a fair distance away did he speak.

“Aedong, did you tell Obaltan what we talked about earlier.”

“Huh. Yeah. Just roughly.”

He sighed softly and tightened his grip on my cheek.

“You… idiot. How much did you tell him.”

“Um… just that we’re going together to some madam’s estate….”

With my cheek squished, I diligently moved my lips to answer.

Maybe it was my imagination, but it felt like he was staring hard at my lips as I explained.

“Did you mention the gold ring or adoption, or anything like that.”

“Of course not. I just said that once we reach Jeonsang City, we’ll pay off your debt and leave the circus. So he thought we were going in as servants.”

As Gyesa’s expression darkened further, my heart dropped.

I’d only told Obaltan so he wouldn’t worry.

As my lips twitched anxiously, Gyesa watched me for a moment, then pressed a finger firmly against my mouth.

At the gentle touch on my sensitive lips, I froze completely.

“From now on, don’t tell anyone.”

“Huh. O—okay. I’m sorry. It’s just because it was Obaltan.”

Startled out of my daze, I answered quickly.

Gyesa made a crooked, dissatisfied face and snapped back.

“What’s different about Obaltan.”

His oddly wary attitude toward Obaltan puzzled me.

Obaltan was one of the few adults who had consistently taken care of us during the fifteen years Gyesa had spent in the circus.

Yet Gyesa’s furrowed brow looked unusually serious.

“Well… he is different, isn’t he.”

When I voiced my doubt carefully, Gyesa let out a deep, frustrated sigh.

His eyes, fixed on me, looked complicated.

What bothered him so much.

Surely Gyesa knew better than anyone that Obaltan was different from the other circus members.

“I don’t trust anyone in this circus. I’ve seen up close how greedy and selfish they are.”

“Does that include Obaltan.”

“Aedong.”

“Then what about me.”

Seeing Gyesa momentarily at a loss for words, a mischievous urge crept up.

Putting on a sulky face, I asked, and he panicked and denied it immediately.

“You’re the exception, idiot.”

“Right.”

Realizing he’d fallen for my teasing, Gyesa huffed and tugged my cheek outward.

“Ow.”

“You little thing, teasing your older brother.”

“But my birthday’s earlier than yours….”

“Shut up. You’re much smaller, so that doesn’t count.”

When I laughed softly at his childish stubbornness, his ears flushed bright red, and he finally let go of my cheek.

“Anyway, don’t change the subject. You don’t trust Obaltan more than me, right.”

He looked so anxious that it seemed he’d collapse on the spot if I said yes.

Seeing that, a wicked thought lifted its head.

Good.

Seems like we care about each other just the same.

Hiding the tangled mess inside my chest, I smiled brightly.

“Of course. You’re the most important to me, Gyesa.”

At my answer, he released the breath he’d been holding and straightened with a proud look.

“I thought so. Then listen carefully. Until we reach Jeonsang City and pay off the debt, don’t trust anyone but me. Not even Obaltan.”

He emphasized Obaltan’s name in particular.

It looked like he was uneasy about how much I relied on him.

At this point, I began to feel there might be something I didn’t know, and my chest stirred restlessly.

“That’s all I wanted to say. Now hurry up and follow—get on.”

After finishing, Gyesa crouched down in front of me.

I looked down at his lean yet broad back.

Every time he carried me like this, it felt strangely fluttering to look down at him, who was usually always above me.

When had Gyesa, who used to carry an even smaller me on his small back, grown so much.

To that sight shown only to me, I hopped up and climbed onto his back.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I asked quietly.

“Am I heavy.”

“If you were heavy, would you jump down and run on your own.”

“I wish I could carry you too.”

“What would you even do with that. Nonsense.”

Ignoring his gruff reply, I wiped a drop of sweat trickling down the back of his neck.

His broad back jolted at once.

Flustered, he stammered.

“W—what are you doing.”

“N—nothing… I thought I was making it hard for you.”

“That’s enough. You’re tiny—how heavy could you be. Just stay still.”

Despite his brusque words, his strides were long and fast enough to make me dizzy just hanging on.

Before long, Gyesa caught up with the rest of the troupe.

Tapping his lips with his finger, he signaled a reminder.

After glancing once at Obaltan, who was smiling cluelessly, I shifted my gaze back to Gyesa.

I felt sorry toward Obaltan, but Gyesa still came first for me.

I didn’t know why Gyesa was so wary, but I folded those complicated feelings away and nodded firmly.

Only then did Gyesa seem reassured and return to his place.

After crossing a few mountain passes and a shallow river, we finally entered Jeonsang City.

Having spent night after night sleeping outdoors without even a wall to block the dew, everyone’s faces brightened the moment we reached the city.

“Get settled and go spread the word.”

But the ringmaster had no intention of letting the troupe rest.

He urged on the exhausted members.

“And Gyesa, I need to see you.”

The ringmaster shot Gyesa a sharp glare.

“Why. I’m busy as hell.”

When Gyesa replied indifferently, the ringmaster flushed red and shouted.

“Shut up. If I call you, you come. Don’t talk back. We need to discuss the show, so follow me right now.”

“I can’t right now. How’s Aedong supposed to set up the tent alone.”

“You insolent little—!”