Chapter 35
Even then, Mu-gyeong was still standing in the same spot. Hongju approached him slowly, checking him over. He looked perfectly fine at a glance, but still—just in case.
"Are you alright?"
A short nod answered him. The collar of his coat was a little askew, but nothing visible seemed wrong. Mu-gyeong glanced down at Hongju, who was carefully inspecting him, and let out a quiet chuckle.
"Get me a drink. The most expensive one."
He swept his coat behind him and walked across the hall. They had just smoked together, yet as Mu-gyeong passed by, all Hongju caught was that clean, subtle scent.
"..."
Maybe it was the lingering questions that hadn’t been answered yet—his eyes stayed fixed on Mu-gyeong’s retreating back.
He left the clean-up to the staff, grabbed an ice glass and some whiskey, then crossed the now-settled hallway to the last room. Mu-gyeong sat with his legs crossed and arms folded, one polished shoe rhythmically bouncing. Even as Hongju walked over with the whiskey, Mu-gyeong’s eyes stayed fixed on the table. He could’ve just dropped it off and left, but Hongju ended up explaining anyway.
"It’s the same one you drank last time."
The same whiskey Mu-gyeong had poured down his throat the first time he came to the temporary House. Back then, Hongju had been scared of him. Not that much had changed—but there was something different now. Now, he found a strange sense of relief in his presence.
Just earlier, he'd felt that. The way he’d hidden behind Mu-gyeong’s shadow and felt safe. That was a feeling he’d never once experienced during his time at the House—a completely foreign emotion.
"Ah, the one you guzzled down all by yourself?"